I struggle to say that this is a Thursday Night Football clash that features two Super Bowl contenders. Instead, I’ll say that a Week 8 matchup between the Vikings and the Chargers is a contest that both teams would really benefit from winning. Minnesota’s had great moments this season, yet the team has been as inconsistent as it’s quarterback position. Then there’s Los Angeles, an organization that has lost three of its last four contests since a 3-0 start that had turned some heads.
You know what I would really benefit from? Nailing another first touchdown scorer prop bet on TNF. Let’s break down a couple picks and try to make it two weeks in a row, shall we?
Vikings vs. Chargers First Touchdown Scorer Prop Bets
Keenan Allen First Touchdown Scorer (+900)
Who could’ve predicted that Keenan Allen would be this involved in the Chargers’ passing attack? Allen re-signed with Los Angeles after a relatively disappointing campaign in Chicago, returning to the organization where he had played the first 11 years of his career. Now 33-years-old, and on a roster with Ladd McConkey (+900) and Quentin Jefferson (+850), it was unclear just how much of a role Allen would warrant. Well, we’re now seven weeks into the season, and the veteran wideout leads the Chargers in targets (65), receptions (44) and receiving yards (435). I’d say it’s a pretty large role! Allen has also been hyper-utilized near the goal line, as he’s seen a whopping 11 red zone targets. Not only is that a team-high, but it’s the fourth-highest mark in the whole NFL, trailing just Davante Adams, Trey McBride and Amon-Ra St. Brown. That’s some good company. Considering that Los Angeles leads the league in passing touchdown rate (86.7%), I’m a little surprised that Allen doesn’t have the shortest odds of any Chargers’ skill-position player to find the end zone this evening.
Jordan Mason First Touchdown Scorer (+650)
In an ideal world, the Vikings would activate Aaron Jones from his 21-day practice window before tonight’s game, and Jordan Mason’s odds would drop a little bit. I don’t think that’s very likely; however, even if Jones does return, I wouldn’t sweat Mason’s goal line monopoly too much. Mason has been Minnesota’s first, second and third option in high leverage this season, garnering 72.2% of the team’s red zone rushing attempts — a share that trails only Christian McCaffrey and Josh Jacobs among RBs. Mason has also seen 100% of the Vikings rushing work inside the opponent’s five-yard line, translating those four carries into three touchdowns. The matchup is good, as well. Los Angeles has struggled to stop the run in recent weeks, surrendering 140.0 opponent rushing yards per contest since the beginning of Week 4. It’s a span where the Chargers have conceded a league-high seven rushing scores.
