Ricky Dimon
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The NFL playoffs will continue on Sunday, and arguably the marquee matchup of the entire 3-day weekend pits the San Francisco 49ers against the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas opened as a -3.5 favorite and our handicapper likes San Francisco to keep it within the number.
But enough about side analysis. For now we are talking touchdown scorers. Let’s take a look at the best TD player prop bets to be made for this NFC showdown between two esteemed franchises.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for San Francisco 49ers vs Dallas Cowboys
First touchdown scorer: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers (+1600)
I’m not a big fan of favorites in this market, because the first touchdown scorer is generally a crapshoot (there are some exceptions like Derrick Henry — when he was healthy – and Cooper Kupp). You can almost always find better value with longer odds. In this case, I am leaning toward that extreme. Aiyuk may not be the longest shot on the book, but at +1600 he is a realistic first touchdown scorer who comes with a lofty payout.
Aiyuk scored 5 touchdowns during the regular season and 4 have come in the last 10 games. He has been targeted at least 6 times in 6 of the last 8 games and in 8 of the last 11. With George Kittle commanding the attention of the defense (especially in the red zone), Aiyuk will surely have plenty of room to operate against the Cowboys. It should also be noted that Dallas allowed the 12th-most fantasy points to wide receivers; it’s not like this defense is dominant even though it gets a lot of publicity. I think the 49ers can start fast against a Cowboys team that has all the pressure on it, and don’t be surprised if it’s Aiyuk who is responsible.
Don’t forget to check out our same game parlay for 49ers vs Cowboys (+653 odds!)
Anytime touchdown scorer: Elijah Mitchell, RB, San Francisco 49ers (-102)
We at Pickswise are on the over in this matchup, and if a lot of points (more than 50.5 is needed for the over to hit) are scored, you have to think Mitchell is going to be part of the party. He has scored touchdowns in 3 of the last 4 games and in the last 5 contests his carries numbers are 27, 27, 22, 21, and 21. Mitchell has turned those into at least 85 yards 4 times, including efforts of 133 yards and 119 yards. He is definitely going to get his team near the end zone more than a few times against a Dallas defense that ranked 23rd in the NFL in yards per rush allowed (4.5) during the regular season. At least one of those drives should result in another Mitchell TD.
Anytime Touchdown Scorer FAQs
What does “anytime touchdown scorer” mean?
Anytime touchdown scorer is a popular player prop bet that NFL bettors can wager on throughout the season. But what is it, and how do you win?
As the name suggests, placing a wager on the anytime touchdown scorer market is when you tip a particular player to score a touchdown during a game. This can be a rushing or receiving touchdown for an offensive player, or you can wager on a team’s defense/special teams to score a touchdown by interception return and fumble return or kickoff and punt returns.
If your player or defense scores a touchdown, you win! The odds will differ from player-to-player depending on the sportsbooks’ calculated probability of that player scoring.
Does anytime touchdown scorer include passing touchdowns?
Not for a quarterback, no. A player must get into the end zone, himself, in order to qualify as an anytime touchdown scorer. If a quarterback throws a touchdown pass, only the player who caught it counts as the scorer. If Tom Brady throws a touchdown pass to Mike Evans, wagers placed on Evans as an anytime touchdown scorer will cash. However, those placed on Brady as an anytime touchdown scorer will not (unless he also runs for a TD). See below for more on what the anytime touchdown scorer market means for quarterbacks.
What does anytime touchdown scorer mean for a QB?
For a wager on a QB to be an anytime touchdown scorer to cash, he must follow the same rules as a running back, tight end, or receiver. He must get into the end zone himself, either as a runner or a pass-catcher.
In the age of the mobile quarterback, QBs such as Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, and Josh Allen are often seen rushing in for a touchdown on any given Sunday. And don’t forget the occasional Philly Special, either. QBs can sometimes catch passes for TDs, too.
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