Someone must score the first touchdown of the game, and this article will help you increase your odds of hitting on that player based on matchups and team strengths. I will track my plays here on BettingPros. Let's get to the best NFL Week 1 first touchdown scorers.
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NFL Week 1 First Touchdown Scorers Picks & Predictions
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals-Buccaneers game has the highest total on the board. Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins returned to practice fully on Wednesday, so there is zero reason these teams should not light it up. The Bengals allowed the second-most yards per game last season, while the Buccaneers allowed the sixth-most passing yards per game.
Joe Burrow spread the ball around well when he returned in Week 13 last season. Chase Brown led the team with seven targets in the red zone from Week 13 to Week 18, while Higgins and Chase had four each.
Brown scored four touchdowns. Chase scored three times. Higgins scored twice on those targets. Higgins offers the best value of the three and should have favorable matchups, while Chase and Brown draw a lot of attention.
Pick: Tee Higgins (+850 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
Buffalo Bills @ Houston Texans
DJ Moore joined the Buffalo Bills and will play with the best quarterback of his career. Moore is the Bills' No. 1 WR and Josh Allen's first true top option at receiver since Stefon Diggs was with the franchise.
Moore reunites with Joe Brady, who was his offensive coordinator during some of his best seasons in Carolina. Brady wants to get the ball to Moore and exploit his playmaking.
The Bills ran the ball 49.84% of the time last season, and 29 of their 59 offensive touchdowns came through the air. Moore can stretch the field and create on his own after the catch.
The Texans ranked fourth-best in the league last season with only 93.7 rushing yards allowed per game. Expect Brady to dial up plays for Moore, especially in the red zone when it becomes tougher to run the ball.
Pick: DJ Moore (+1600 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings
Tucker Kraft played in eight games and tore his ACL against Carolina in Week 9. He had 12 red-zone targets in those games, and only trailed Romeo Doubs (17) in red-zone targets for the Packers. Doubs is now playing for the Patriots, so Kraft becomes the clear option in the red zone for Jordan Love.
Kraft has practiced in full pads for weeks and insists he does not want to be on a snap count. The Packers may have different plans, but it would be ridiculous for him not to be on the field when they are in scoring position. Kraft scored six touchdowns last season in limited action and should have a great chance on Sunday to get into the end zone.
Pick: Tucker Kraft (+1300 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles
DeVonta Smith is now the clear No. 1 WR for the Eagles' passing attack. A.J. Brown is in New England, which opens up a lot of targets. Brown garnered 121 targets (26%) last season, while Smith had 113 targets (24.3%). Smith has prospered when Brown was out of the lineup. In three games since 2024 without Brown, Smith registered a 32.9% target share.
Smith should lead the Philadelphia passing attack and thrive as the team’s No. WR. He gets a matchup with a bottom-five passing defense in 2025. The Commanders allowed 242.5 passing yards per game last season.
Smith had 11 targets in the red zone last season and caught seven for two touchdowns. He offers the best value to score first in this matchup.
Pick: DeVonta Smith (+1000 at Caesars Sportsbook)
