First Touchdown Scorer Predictions for Thursday Night Football Week 8

No longer undefeated, the Minnesota Vikings will look to get back into the win column against the struggling Los Angeles Rams.

Though our first touchdown scorer predictions for Thursday Night Football are giving you an option for both contenders, you might be safe betting only one.

The Vikings have found the end zone first in all six of their games this season. Two offseason additions have helped them jump out to these early leads, with Sam Darnold and Aaron Jones providing a major impact. I anticipate one of them will put Minnesota on the board first again this week.

Meanwhile, the Rams haven't enjoyed much success this season and sit at the bottom of the NFC West with a 2-4 record.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has thrown for only three touchdowns all year, while his running game has produced eight. Last week was the first in which the Rams crossed the goal line first in a game this season.

As part of our NFL Week 8 predictions, we also offered our Sam Darnold TNF player prop bets. And if this isn't enough TD content for you, be sure to check out our anytime touchdown scorer predictions for Thursday Night Football.

First touchdown scorer predictions Thursday Night Football: Week 8

Our NEW NFL player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds on any market - including a variety of touchdown markets - across legal sportsbooks in your area!

Vikings first touchdown scorer prediction: Aaron Jones, RB ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: | Implied probability: 15.38%

Minnesota’s hot start to the season is due in large part to the fact that the Vikings have scored the first touchdown in all six of their games this season. Jones has scored two of those touchdowns.

The long-time Packers running back has been utilized on 33% of his team’s total offensive plays, carrying the ball 85 times and garnering the second-most targets (23). Jones has also been given the most chances inside the red zone, leading the team in carries (12) and targets (nine) inside the 20-yard line. 

Teams are running the ball against the Rams on 51.2% of their plays, which is the third-highest percentage in the league. Los Angeles has surrendered three first touchdowns on the ground in six games this season.

Justin Jefferson is +550 to score first in this game and is responsible for two more Vikings first touchdowns, but I feel he may get them close to a score on a big play early, and Jones will finish the drive with the score.   

We're also backing Jones to have a big day on the ground with our Vikings vs. Rams TNF prop bets.

Rams first touchdown scorer prediction: Kyren Williams, RB ⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: | Implied probability: 18.87%

Kyren Williams has been responsible for nine of the Rams’ 11 offensive touchdowns this season. Last week, he was the first player on either team to find the end zone, which was the first time this season the Rams opened the touchdown scoring.

With two major receiving threats in Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua missing the majority of games thus far, Williams has assumed a much larger role on the Rams’ offense. He is fifth in the league in carries (116) and is tied with Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry for the most rushing touchdowns. 

I know Kupp (+800) will likely be the popular play tonight, but he is just coming back from injury and might take a few snaps to get back into game shape. In truth, I don’t think Los Angeles will score first in this contest, but if they do, Williams is going to get that chance. 

We also think the running back will have a big game on the ground, as we discussed in our Vikings vs. Rams prediction.

You can still make a tidy $43 in profit off a $10 wager on this prop if it manages to hit.  

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