The final full NFL Sunday of the year is here.
We pegged down a handful of winners last week, so let’s finish the regular season strong with touchdown scorer props in Week 18.
Here are five of my favorite touchdown bets this weekend in the NFL.
Steelers WR Ray-Ray McCloud: +450 on BetMGM
McCloud of the Pittsburgh Steelers has not yet scored this season, but the receiver is seeing consistent volume near the goal line. McCloud had five red zone targets last week and has seen at least one target in the red zone in four straight weeks.
You’ll see as a likely constant throughout this piece is a preference for games that matter. The last week of the NFL season sometimes gets funky, with young players seeing more snaps and starters getting pulled.
Luckily, this game is not one of those cases, with both the Steelers and Ravens still alive in the postseason race.
Speaking of the Ravens, few defenses have struggled slowing down receivers quite like Baltimore this year. Only four teams have allowed more touchdowns to WRs than the Ravens, so there’s going to be opportunities for a Pittsburgh pass-catcher in this one.
I’ll take a chance on McLoud to finally score at +450.
Ravens WR Marquise Brown: +190 on BetMGM
Let’s stick with this game for a moment and load up Marquise Brown. The best odds are once again at BetMGM, with DraftKings/FanDuel closer to +150.
Tyler Huntley will be starting for the third time in four weeks to wrap the season for the Ravens, who as mentioned are still alive and will be fighting to win.
In Huntley’s two most recent starts, Brown has seen 14 and 8 targets, and should once again be heavily involved in the passing game.
Pittsburgh let up the eighth-most touchdowns per game to WRs.
49ers RB Elijah Mitchell: +140 on FanDuel
The 49ers are in an important game against the Rams, with their wildcard hopes on the line. We turn to Mitchell, as LA has been more generous to rushing scores, ranking second-best in the NFL in passing touchdowns allowed.
Mitchell returned in Week 17 and commanded the work out of this backfield, taking 21 carries for 119 yards. While he didn’t score, Mitchell did find the end zone in his two previous starts. I like the +140 odds here.
Two-Leg Parlay: Devin Singletary and D’Onta Foreman TDs (+203 on FanDuel)
I’m combining these two picks to give us favorable odds, since both come in closer to -140 on their own.
Let’s start with Singletary of the Bills, who will play the Jets.
I’ve been betting running backs to score against New York on a weekly basis, as no team allows more touchdowns to the position than the Jets (1.63 per game).
Singletary has taken hold of the top running back position in Buffalo and has a whopping 20 red zone looks in the past three weeks.
He’s also scored four touchdowns in the past three weeks, momentum I like seeing in a parlay.
Now for Foreman. He too gets himself a soft opponent in Houston, who allow the second-most rushing touchdowns per game.
Foreman is averaging 3.4 red zone looks per game in his last five, scoring in three of four.
Both running backs have established roles near the end zone, soft opponents, and perhaps most importantly, something to play for.
Buffalo clinches the AFC East with a win and Tennessee secures the coveted first round bye with a win. Love this play.
Chargers TE Jared Cook: +240 on FanDuel
Speaking of games that matter, there isn’t a more cut-and-dry example than the Chargers-Raiders on Sunday Night Football. It’s win and you’re in for these two teams.
It’s always good to get a touchdown scorer prop in for SNF to have a rooting interest for the final game of the day, and Cook has us covered.
The Raiders allow the third-most touchdowns to tight ends, and Cook is back after spending a week on the COVID list.
Cook sees a steady stream of targets from Justin Herbert, with 5+ in three straight games. He’ll get his chances on Sunday against this Raiders defense, and with their defensive attention likely diverted to Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, I like Cook to slip through the cracks and score.
–By Griffin Carroll, Field Level Media