First Touchdown Scorer Predictions TNF: Who Scores 1st Vikings vs. Chargers TD?

We're hoping to cash in again with one of our first touchdown scorer predictions for Thursday Night Football, with the Los Angeles Chargers hosting the Minnesota Vikings at Sofi Stadium at 8:15 p.m. ET (Prime Video).

My NFL picks explore who's best positioned to reach the end zone first in what's expected to be a relatively low-scoring affair, while getting a total of 44.5. The Chargers enter as the -3.5 favorites as we make our NFL predictions for Week 8.

🏈 Thursday Night Football first touchdown scorer predictions

NFL first touchdown scorer picks for Thursday Night Football; odds subject to change.

💰 Best Vikings vs. Chargers first touchdown scorer bets: Thursday Night Football

Our NFL player prop odds tool shows the best odds for every market across legal sportsbooks in your area.

Keenan Allen (+900) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Vikings' defense is imposing, especially against the pass. This season, the secondary has limited wide receivers to a league-low 50 receptions.

But there's an easily imaginable scenario in which the Chargers exploit a mediocre Minnesota run defense to trot down the field and be in scoring position first. They could do that while riding with Kimani Vidal, who's only one week removed from racking up 138 yards from scrimmage. The likely lean toward him is part of why Esten McLaren is featuring the tailback in his anytime touchdown scorer predictions for Thursday Night Football.

From there Allen can take over, as the veteran remains a heavily relied upon red-zone presence. Allen is in his age-33 season, and he's still tied for fourth with 11 red-zone targets, which the pass-catcher has turned into three of his four touchdowns. The most recent score came last week during a game when he also accumulated 119 receiving yards.

If that volume and clear tendency from the Chargers turns into another touchdown and the first one of the night, a $10 bet at these +900 odds from DraftKings would translate to a $90 payout, with an implied probability of 10%.

Allen scoring could help the Chargers cover, which is one of Gary Pearson's picks in his Vikings vs. Chargers prediction.

Aaron Jones (+1100) ⭐⭐⭐

Aaron Jones will return to the Vikings' backfield on Thursday. The move seemed increasingly likely after he came off the injured reserve earlier in the week, and then this afternoon ESPN's Adam Schefter reported he's expected to play.

Jones has been out four games, and the Vikings might opt to ease him back into action while still giving Jordan Mason the bulk of the backfield work. But we only need him to get a few goal-line carries, and Jones has shown plenty of scoring ability in the not-so distant past, all while earning the trust of Minnesota's coaching staff. Last year he scored seven times, which was partly the product of tying for seventh leaguewide with 12 carries inside the 5-yard line.

An injury has robbed him of a chance to make a mark this season, but the Vikings could go back to leaning on his effectiveness around the end zone. Especially with Carson Wentz still under center, and against a leaky Chargers run defense that's ranked 19th (123.6 yards allowed per game). The Chargers are also tied for the second-most rushing touchdowns given up to running backs (eight).

If Jones makes an impact early right after his return, a $10 wager on him to score first would lead to a $110 payout, with an implied probability of 8.33%.

Justin Herbert (+3300) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Justin Herbert will never be in the Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen tier of rushing quarterbacks, nor is he trying to become that player. But he posted a respectable career-high of 306 rushing yards just last season and he's always possessed the instincts and athleticism to get creative when a play breaks down.

Much like Vidal then, he's capable of also taking advantage of a Vikings run defense ranked 18th while coughing up 115.8 yards per game. That includes 58 yards and a touchdown to the Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams earlier this season. Herbert has recorded 30-plus rushing yards in two of his past three games, topping out at 60 yards in Week 5.

If he keeps rumbling enough to cash this long-shot play for us, a $10 wager using the juicy +3300 betting odds from bet365 would result in a $330 payout, with an implied probability of 2.94%.

Our Dustin Saracini is also featuring Herbert in his Vikings vs. Chargers player props while highlighting what the signal-caller can do through the air.

📊 Vikings vs. Chargers first TD scorer odds: Thursday Night Football

Latest NFL odds updated live in real time.

💡 More Vikings vs. Chargers expert picks

• Vikings vs. Chargers prediction
• Vikings vs. Chargers player props
• Vikings vs. Chargers same-game parlay
• Vikings vs. Chargers anytime touchdown scorer predictions
• Vikings vs. Chargers first touchdown scorer predictions
• Vikings vs. Chargers expert picks

📺 How to watch Thursday Night Football: Vikings vs. Chargers

• Date: Thursday, Oct. 23
• Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET
• Where: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)
• TV: Prime Video