With six games in three days across Wild Card Weekend, there are lots of intriguing options when it comes to NFL betting, such as anytime touchdowns. Heading into the weekend, let’s examine the recent matchup data to try and identify some anytime TD scorer predictions across the six games.
NFL Anytime TD Scorer Predictions on Wild Card Weekend
This weekend of games has some really interesting matchups to consider. Additionally, we can see a variety of different strategies in the NFL playoffs. Some teams will condense their offense around their key options even more, while others will unveil part of their playbook we haven’t seen all year.
George Kittle (+180) – Caesars Sportsbook
It’s hard to argue against George Kittle and his recent touchdown-scoring form. He now has seven touchdowns in the last four weeks, including two against the Seattle Seahawks back in Week 15. Matchup-wise, the Seahawks are tied for the fourth-most receptions allowed to the tight end position in the last four weeks.
It would be extremely surprising if one of Kittle or Christian McCaffrey did not find the end zone this weekend. Of the San Francisco 49ers’ 16 touchdowns in the last four games, Kittle and McCaffrey have combined for 11 of them.
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McCaffrey can be found at the best odds of -150 in a couple of places (DraftKings and bet365). The RB has scored in 70% of his games with the 49ers, so there is some value at those odds, but I would rather put him in a parlay than bet him straight up.
Kittle is the better straight-up bet of the two based on recent form and his implied probability of 35.7% at +180 odds. McCaffrey works better as the first leg of a parlay with a couple of other stud options.
Elijah Mitchell (+275) – DraftKings
I never like to have three anytime TD options from the same game, let alone the same team. However, Elijah Mitchell is intriguing after being “eased” back in from injury last week with two touchdowns on five carries. Mitchell has been a highly effective runner when healthy this year and saw some red-zone work in his first game back.
With the 49ers being favorites by around 10 points, this game could be one where they have a big lead in the second half. It’s possible we see San Francisco take McCaffrey out of harm’s way and utilize the combination of Mitchell, Tyrion Davis-Price, and Jordan Mason.
As the veteran option, it very well could be Mitchell that they trust as the first alternative to McCaffrey around the goal line. If you believe in Mitchell finding the end zone, then head over to DraftKings Sportsbook, where they are offering a bet $5, win $200 bonus for new users.
Austin Ekeler (-138) – bet365
One of the stories of this season was around how Austin Ekeler was primed for a touchdown regression. Through the first three weeks of the 2022 season, that appeared to be the case when he was held out of the end zone. Since then, however, Ekeler has scored 18 touchdowns in 14 games, only failing to find the end zone in three of those games.
Ekeler’s odds this week imply a 58% probability of scoring a touchdown. In the past 14 weeks, he has scored 78.6% of his games, presenting intriguing value. Over the last three weeks, the Jaguars have allowed one rushing and two receiving touchdowns to running backs. There is definitely an opportunity for Ekeler to be the difference-maker this week.
At his -138 odds, you could really go either way with Ekeler. There is solid value in betting on him in a single bet because he’s a dual threat when it comes to finding the end zone. Meanwhile, Ekeler is an intriguing second leg of the parlay we opened with McCaffrey.
Dawson Knox (+230) – Unibet & BetRivers
The matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins is not that great when it comes to anytime TD value this week. With Skylar Thompson expected to be under center, it’s hard to trust any of the Dolphins players this week.
Both Stefon Diggs and Josh Allen are always intriguing any TD predictions. Diggs is a solid value at +105 on PointsBet but has scored just once in the last four weeks. Meanwhile, knowing who will score in the run game is tough to predict week-to-week.
The most intriguing value this week is Bills’ TE Dawson Knox. After just two touchdowns in the first 13 weeks, Knox has scored four times in the Bills’ last four games. One of those touchdowns came against this Dolphins’ defense when he had six receptions for 98 yards.
In total, over the last four weeks, the Miami defense has allowed three touchdowns to tight ends. With his recent run of form over the last few weeks and the nice matchup against the Dolphins’ defense, Knox’s value at +200 or greater is certainly interesting.
Justin Jefferson (+115) – FOXBET
Justin Jefferson is interesting when you look at his numbers. He scored eight touchdowns in 17 games this year, but six of those came from Week 9 onwards. Jefferson had a big day when the Vikings faced the New York Giants in Week 16, with 133 receiving yards and a touchdown on 12 receptions.
However, in that game, the Giants did not have their lead CB, Adoree’ Jackson, available. But after being limited on WednesdayJackson is potentially on track to play this week. While he was limited all of last week, Jackson missed the game as the Giants focused on the playoffs. The initial reports indicate that he has a chance to play, which creates some doubts about Jefferson.
If Jackson doesn’t play, then Jefferson looks to be good value at his current odds. Additionally, he would make an intriguing third leg of the parlay if we find out Jackson could miss Wild Card Weekend.
T.J. Hockenson (+215) – DraftKings
Since arriving in Minnesota, TE T.J. Hockenson has not been a consistent option in terms of finding the end zone. He has just three touchdowns with the Vikings, but two of those came against the Giants in Week 16.
New York has not been overly vulnerable to the tight end position this year, but Hockenson found success. At +215 odds, Hockenson is an interesting option if you are looking for some action on this game, and Jackson is active to limit Jefferson potentially.
Ja’Marr Chase (+105) – FanDuel & PointsBet
It’s no secret how much of a touchdown threat Ja’Marr Chase is in this Cincinnati Bengals offense. Chase has scored 22 touchdowns in 29 games, including three in the last four games. He has two touchdowns in four career games against Baltimore, and one of them came in Week 18.
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As a straight-up bet, the odds here are not incredible. Yet, as the third leg of a potential parlay with McCaffrey and Ekeler, Chase is extremely interesting this week. The Bengals’ offense did not run smoothly last week, but the way Chase had success puts him in the frame in terms of anytime TD predictions.
CeeDee Lamb (+160) – PointsBet & Bet365 & Mike Evans (+185) – FanDuel
There are a few different ways to approach anytime TD predictions for this game. Both defenses have been vulnerable to opposing WRs in recent weeks, with the Dallas Cowboys allowing eight touchdowns to wide receivers in the last four games and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers allowing six to the position over the same timeframe.
CeeDee Lamb has three touchdowns in the last three games while seeing 32 targets. The offense has certainly seemed to be more centered around him in recent weeks and his nine touchdowns in 17 games this season is a career high. Mike Evans and Tom Brady got on the same page in a big way the last time they were on the field together in Week 17.
The three touchdowns are certainly interesting, but it was Evans’ first time in the end zone since Week 4. He did also score in Week 1 against the Cowboys, and with a soft matchup, it’s certainly something to consider.
Both Evans and Lamb are enticing here, but Lamb feels the safer option, especially if you are still looking for a third leg of the McCaffrey and Ekeler parlay.
Dalton Schultz (+225) – PointsBet
The matchup this week is intriguing for the Cowboys’ tight ends. The Buccaneers have allowed three touchdowns to the position in the last four weeks, which means that Dalton Schultz makes for a really intriguing three-person tight end Wild Card Weekend parlay.
Putting Schultz, Hockenson, and Knox together can give you a +3000 parlay that you could play as a low-unit, high-upside bet.
Adding Kittle would also make for a +7500 four-player parlay. The most logical triple is probably Kittle, Knox, and Hockenson, but splitting your units across combinations of the four tight ends has a lot of potential for returns this weekend.