Ricky Dimon
NFL
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If it feels like Week 15 just ended, well…it did. We had Tuesday Night Football for the first time this season and even doubled the fun with it, as 2 games were played. The Eagles went up against the Football Team while the Rams went up against the Seahawks. Less than 48 hours following the conclusion of those contests, Week 16 will kick off in the form of Thursday Night Football between the San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans.
This may not be a potential Super Bowl preview, but it is one of the more intriguing games on the upcoming NFL slate with both teams in playoff contention. San Francisco is 8-6 and currently in wild-card position in the NFC, while Tennessee leads the AFC South at 9-5.
Which players will come up big for their teams as the postseason push continues? Who will find the end zone on Thursday? Let’s break down some of the best touchdown scorer bets for the beginning of Week 16.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for San Francisco 49ers vs Tennessee Titans
First touchdown scorer: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers (+1000)
I’m not big fan of favorites in this market, because the first touchdown scorer is generally a crapshoot (there are some exceptions like Derrick Henry, when he was healthy). You can almost always find better value with longer odds. In this case I am sort of going in between the 2 extremes. Aiyuk is not one of the favorites but also isn’t an outrageous long-shot. At +1000, the San Francisco wide receiver has great value.
Aiyuk has scored 4 touchdowns this year and 3 have come in the last 7 games. He has been targeted at least 6 times in 4 of the last 5 games and in 6 of the last 8. With a red-hot George Kittle commanding the attention of the defense (especially in the red zone), Aiyuk will surely have plenty of room to operate. It should also be noted that Tennessee allows the second-most fantasy points to WRs in the entire league compared to the fifth-fewest points to tight ends. I also like the 49ers’ chances of scoring first, as they roll into this matchup with a ton of momentum (5-1 in their last 6 outings). They have posted the first TD in 4 of those 5 wins.
The Titans, on the other hand, are 1-3 in their last 4 and have watched the opposition score first in 2 of those 3 recent losses. Look for San Fran to start fast, and don’t be surprised if it’s Aiyuk who is responsible.
Don’t forget to check out our same game parlay for 49ers vs Titans (+1096 odds!)
Anytime touchdown scorer: D’Onta Foreman, RB, Tennessee Titans (+175)
With Derrick Henry on injured reserve, Foreman is now the foreman in Tennessee’s backfield. The former-third round pick (2017) out of Texas is making the most of his opportunity, too. In 2 of the last 3 games he has surpassed the 100-yard mark on the ground. The lone exception saw him amass 62 yards from scrimmage and score a touchdown during a 20-0 rout of Jacksonville. Foreman is averaging just under 20 touches over the past 3 contests. Assuming he gets a similar workload against San Francisco, you have to like his chances of scoring. The 49ers are in the middle of the pack when it comes to rushing defense and they have surrendered the fifth-most rushing TDs (16).
Check out PropBetGuy’s best player prop for 49ers vs Titans, where he’s sweet on Samuel
Anytime Touchdown Scorer FAQs
What does “anytime touchdown scorer” mean?
Anytime touchdown scorer is a popular player prop bet that NFL bettors can wager on throughout the season. But what is it, and how do you win?
As the name suggests, placing a wager on the anytime touchdown scorer market is when you tip a particular player to score a touchdown during a game. This can be a rushing or receiving touchdown for an offensive player, or you can wager on a team’s defense/special teams to score a touchdown by interception return and fumble return or kickoff and punt returns.
If your player or defense scores a touchdown, you win! The odds will differ from player-to-player depending on the sportsbooks’ calculated probability of that player scoring.
Does anytime touchdown scorer include passing touchdowns?
Not for a quarterback, no. A player must get into the end zone, himself, in order to qualify as an anytime touchdown scorer. If a quarterback throws a touchdown pass, only the player who caught it counts as the scorer. If Tom Brady throws a touchdown pass to Mike Evans, wagers placed on Evans as an anytime touchdown scorer will cash. However, those placed on Brady as an anytime touchdown scorer will not (unless he also runs for a TD). See below for more on what the anytime touchdown scorer market means for quarterbacks.
What does anytime touchdown scorer mean for a QB?
For a wager on a QB to be an anytime touchdown scorer to cash, he must follow the same rules as a running back, tight end, or receiver. He must get into the end zone himself, either as a runner or a pass-catcher.
In the age of the mobile quarterback, QBs such as Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, and Josh Allen are often seen rushing in for a touchdown on any given Sunday. And don’t forget the occasional Philly Special, either. QBs can sometimes catch passes for TDs, too.
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