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NFL Sunday Night Football Touchdown Scorers: Rams vs. Lions

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Sunday night, we have a matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and the Detroit Lions. Millions of dollars will get bet on this game. However, which touchdown prop bets should you bet? Let's take a look. Here are our top first TD scorer and anytime TD scorer prop bet picks for Sunday Night Football: Rams vs. Lions.

Week 1 Sunday Night Football Touchdown Scorer Prop Bets

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

Best First TD Scorer Prop Bet Picks: Rams vs. Lions

Who will score the first touchdown in this week’s NFL Games? The First TD market covers the first player who carries or receives the ball into the end zone in a game, not the QB who passes the ball. We compare first touchdown stats to prop bet odds to help identify today’s best bets. View First Touchdown odds across sportsbooks here.

Los Angeles Rams First TD Scorer: Cooper Kupp (+400)

Unfortunately, Kupp has struggled with injuries the past two years, missing 38.2% of the Rams’ games, including five last season. However, the star receiver is healthy and ready to reclaim the title as Matthew Stafford's go-to guy. Kupp had five receiving touchdowns in 2023, the second-most on the team behind Puka Nacua (six). Furthermore, the veteran wide receiver had the Rams' first touchdown in 16.7% of the games he played.

The Lions made several additions on defense in the offseason. Yet, Detroit's secondary is young and should struggle to start the season. Last year, the Lions gave up 22 receiving touchdowns to wide receivers, the third-most in the NFL. Furthermore, eight of those 22 scores were the first touchdown in the game for their opponents. Expect Kupp to set the tone early in the game and remind everyone that he is still an elite receiver.

Detroit Lions First TD Scorer: David Montgomery (+290)

While Ben Johnson was a popular head coaching candidate this offseason, the Lions' offensive coordinator returned for another year. Furthermore, Detroit didn't have much turnover in the offseason, meaning their offense should repeat their success from 2023. Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs form the best 1-2 punch at running back in the NFL. However, the veteran is the Lions' goal-line specialist, scoring a team-high 13 rushing touchdowns last year.

Furthermore, nine of Montgomery's 13 rushing touchdowns came from within the five-yard line in 2023 (per Fantasy Points Data). More importantly, he scored Detroit's first touchdown in 28.6% of the games he played. Montgomery had the first touchdown of the game when these two teams faced off in the NFC Wild Card playoff matchup, scoring from one yard out. Bettors should expect another season of the veteran dominating around the goal line.

Best Anytime TD Scorer Prop Bet Picks: Rams vs. Lions

Who will score a touchdown in this week’s NFL Games? The Anytime TD market covers any player who carries or receives the ball into the end zone, not the QB who passes the ball. We compare anytime touchdown stats to prop bet odds and projections to help identify today’s best bets. View Anytime Touchdown odds across sportsbooks here.

Anytime TD Scorer: Amon-Ra St. Brown (+100)

St. Brown didn't score in the Lions' playoff win over the Rams. However, he dominated the game, totaling seven receptions on nine targets for 110 receiving yards. His performance wasn't surprising, as the star wide receiver led the team in every receiving category in 2023. Furthermore, St. Brown's 10 receiving touchdowns were the fourth-most in the NFL during the regular season and the 12th-most in franchise history.

Los Angeles lost several players on defense over the past few months with Aaron Donald retiring after a Hall of Fame career. Meanwhile, the Rams will be without multiple starting cornerbacks for this game, including Darious Williams, Derion Kendrick, and Tre Tomlinson. Last year, Los Angeles surrendered 15 receiving touchdowns to wide receivers, around the league average. With multiple players in the secondary missing, the Rams will have a suspect pass defense to start the season.

Anytime TD Scorer: Sam LaPorta (+135)

Many were surprised to see LaPorta have an elite rookie season in 2023. The former Iowa star had 10 receiving touchdowns, the fourth-most in the NFL during the regular season and the 12th-most in franchise history. Furthermore, he had four more receiving scores than any other tight end in the league, including five more than Travis Kelce. More importantly, LaPorta scored in the playoff matchup against the Rams.

While some believe the second-year player will have touchdown regression in 2024, don't bet on it happening in Week 1. Los Angeles' secondary has been obliterated by injuries. Meanwhile, they surrendered eight receiving touchdowns to tight ends last season, the second-most in the NFL. LaPorta had only three receptions in the playoff matchup, as he was coming off an injury he suffered the week before. Expect the young star to dominate on Sunday night.

Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.

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