Happy Holidays to you all! The NFL has blessed us with a two-game Christmas Day slate and it begins with Chiefs vs. Steelers. Kansas City will head into Pittsburgh as a three-point favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook with the game total set at O/U 43.5 points. The Steelers have dropped back-to-back games and are in dire need of a win to maintain momentum and status in the AFC North division race.
George Pickens should be returning from a three-game absence, adding a much-needed boost to Pittsburgh’s passing attack. That said, do you think Pickens (+900) will be the first touchdown (TD) scorer in his first game back? Perhaps Najee Harris (+750) or Isiah Pacheco (+850)? I am honed in on one player––check out my top first touchdown (TD) scorer pick for Chiefs vs. Steelers below.
Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers
Pat Freiermuth First TD Scorer (+1500)
I’m feeling a little risky on this fine Christmas morning. I’m fully expecting Russell Wilson to feed Pickens early and often but Freiermuth has an elite matchup and didn’t see much of a shift in target share with Pickens sidelined for the last three games. He has scored a touchdown in three of the last five games and should see plenty of opportunities against the Chiefs’ linebackers, who have allowed the most receiving yards to opposing tight ends this season.
Pickens’ presence on the field should be enough to open things up for Wilson and Freiermuth to get things going early. Pittsburgh ranks 30th in red zone touchdown percentage but Freiermuth has hauled in 10-of-11 red zone targets for 79 yards and five touchdowns. Five of his six touchdowns have come via the red zone and the Chiefs’ track record against tight ends suggests he could be in for a very solid outing.
One interesting but painful statistic: Both of his backups, Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward, each have scored the first touchdown once this season. Freiermuth is due to find the end zone first.
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