NFL Week 8 First TD Scorers Picks & Predictions (2024)
Someone must score the first TD of the game, and this article will help you increase your odds of hitting on that player based on matchups and team strengths. It will feature a selection for each game of the Sunday slate.
I will track my plays here on BettingPros. Let's get to the first touchdown scorer predictions for NFL Week 8!
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NFL Week 8 First TD Scorers Picks & Predictions (2024)
Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns
I am going to take a shot in this matchup. The oddsmakers are not expecting the Browns to have a chance of scoring first, but there are a lot of variables at play. Jameis Winston will be the starter, and Cedric Tillman will play his second game without Amari Cooper. Tillman had 12 targets, eight receptions, and 81 yards last week in Cooper's former role. Winston will be throwing the ball early and often Sunday. The Ravens are a pass funnel defense because they stop the run better than anyone in the league. Tillman has a chance to catch a deep ball, and his odds are too long for his usage.
Pick: Cedric Tillman (+2600 via Fanduel)
Green Bay Packers @ Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars have been getting torched by tight ends all season. They allowed 12 catches and 124 yards to the Patriots' tight ends last week and have allowed four TDs to the position this season. Kraft has six targets in the red zone this season. He has caught five, and three were scores. Jordan Love finds Kraft near the goal line, and the Packers should be there a lot this week. The Jaguars' defense has little chance to stop this offense, and Kraft is a monster on the goal line.
Pick: Tucker Kraft (+1100 via DraftKings)
Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans
Stefon Diggs has become the number-one option for C.J. Stroud since Nico Collins was injured. He has a 26.4% target share and is tied for the team lead in end-zone targets. Stroud did not play well last week, and everyone struggled except for Joe Mixon. Stroud and Diggs should have a better week against the Colts, who allow 222.1 passing yards per game. Diggs should remain the top option in this offense and continue to draw touchdown opportunities.
Pick: Stefon Diggs (+750 via FanDuel)
Tennessee Titans @ Detroit Lions
The Titans' offense looks inept, and it does not matter which quarterback is under center. This matchup is a game of two tales because the Lions' offense could not be better. They have scored more offensive TDs (16) than incompletions (18) in their last four games. Jameson Williams will miss two games due to suspension, which means St. Brown should benefit. He caught all eight targets for 112 yards and one TD last week. He leads the team with nine targets in the red zone and should get peppered with targets all game.
Pick: Amon-Ra St. Brown (+500 via FanDuel)
Arizona Cardinals @ Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa is returning to action this week, which means the Dolphins' offense has relevancy again. They have been an auto fade for this market since Tagovailoa got injured, but they may be a solid play against the Cardinals' defense. The Cardinals have allowed the seventh-most rushing yards per game. Mostert played 33% of snaps last week and got 11 carries. He played 85.7% of red zone snaps, which is promising. De'Von Achane may get them there, but Mostert could be the one to punch it in.
Pick: Raheem Mostert (+950 via FanDuel)
New York Jets @ New England Patriots
The Jets need to get the ball to Davante Adams. He only caught three passes for 30 yards last week on nine targets. Garrett Wilson was held in check in his first game against the Patriots. He caught five passes for 33 yards and a TD. Christian Gonzalez will limit whoever he guards, but it may be both Adams and Wilson. The targets are there, but Rodgers and Adams could not connect last week. I expect Rodgers to try and start hot with Adams this week to gain momentum for the season.
Pick: Davante Adams (+600 via FanDuel)
Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Darnell Mooney averages 7.6 targets per game and is second on the team with five red zone targets. Four of those targets have come in the last three games, which means they are scheming plays for him near the goal line. He also can catch a deep pass, especially against the Buccaneers. They allow the 11th-most deep passing yards and the tenth-highest rating on deep passes. Mooney is a solid play this week in an offense full of weapons.
Pick: Darnell Mooney (+1300 via FanDuel)
Philadelphia Eagles @ Cincinnati Bengals
Philadelphia still has not scored in the first quarter this season. They can still score first, but it has to be factored in, especially in this matchup. The Bengals are averaging 25.4 points per game and allowing 23.7 per game. They will score points and probably score first if the Eagles cannot score in the first quarter. Chase Brown has taken over as the lead back in Cincinnati with a 60% snap share in the past two weeks. He received all red zone snaps last week. He should have a solid chance of scoring first this week.
Pick: Chase Brown (+750 via DraftKings)
New Orleans Saints @ Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers average six points in the first quarter and allow 1.2 points per first quarter. I keep rolling with Dobbins, but he has not produced a first touchdown yet. He has a great matchup this week, so I am running it back with Dobbins. The Saints allow the fourth-most rushing yards per game and have struggled to stop the run lately. They have allowed 213.7 rushing yards per game in their last three games. Dobbins has been the workhorse back since Gus Edwards was placed on IR. He is a solid chalk play this week.
Pick: J.K. Dobbins (+400 via FanDuel)
Buffalo Bills @ Seattle Seahawks
DK Metcalf is probably not going to play this week as he deals with a knee injury. Jaxon Smith-Njigba will likely receive more work on the outside, but Kenneth Walker may be the biggest beneficiary. Buffalo is middle-of-the-pack against the run. They allow 132.9 rushing yards per game and have been up-and-down this season. I expect this rushing attack to have a good day against them, or they will probably get blown out without Metcalf.
Pick: Kenneth Walker III (+550 via FanDuel)
Chicago Bears @ Washington Commanders
The matchup is great for D'Andre Swift this week. The Commanders allow the second-highest explosive run rate and the third-highest yards before contact per attempt. That is great for Swift, who struggles to break tackles. Jayden Daniels will miss the game as he deals with a rib injury. The Bears should have a great opportunity to punch it in first, and Swift is the most likely to do it.
Pick: D'Andre Swift (+700 via DraftKings)
Carolina Panthers @ Denver Broncos
Bo Nix has started to grow as a quarterback. He has one interception since week two and is becoming a dual threat. He has run for at least 60 yards in his last two games and has three rushing TDs on the season. The Panthers are awful at stopping the run and are generally bad. They allow the most points per game and the most points per first quarter. Nix can scramble for a score or get a designed run, but he is a good contrarian play to Javonte Williams.
Pick: Bo Nix (+650 via DraftKings)
Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders
Kareem Hunt has been a workhorse since he got up to speed. He only played 45% of snaps in his first week but has played 63.5% over the past two weeks. He has received more than 20 carries in those games and has scored thrice. The Raiders are surprisingly good against the pass but struggle against the run. Patrick Mahomes has not had a great season, so I expect the Chiefs to run the ball a lot. Hunt should remain busy this week.
Pick: Kareem Hunt (+400 via FanDuel)