Vikings vs. Bengals: Best anytime NFL TD scorer bets for Saturday Football in Week 15
NFL Week 15 action features the first Saturday matchups of the season, starting with the Minnesota Vikings (7-6) heading on the road to play the Cincinnati Bengals (7-6). The game will feature a battle of backup quarterbacks with the Vikings' Nick Mullens making his first start of the season and the Bengals' Jake Browning looking for his third win in a row.
Minnesota won 3-0 last week against the Las Vegas Raiders in the lowest-scoring NFL game since 2007. Despite the bye coming the week prior, the Vikings offense managed just 231 total yards and coach Kevin O'Connell decided to bench Joshua Dobbs in favor of Mullens for Week 15. Mullens' last start came in 2021 for the Cleveland Browns against the Raiders. He'll have better weapons to throw to in this game, including star wide receiver Justin Jefferson and tight end T.J. Hockenson.
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Cincinnati lost franchise quarterback Joe Burrow to a season-ending wrist injury in Week 11 but the Bengals have won their last two games. Browning's led the offense to more than 400 yards per game on this win streak. Even without Burrow, the Bengals are still in the hunt for a spot in the AFC playoffs behind one of the beter passing offenses in the league.
Each team needs a win to keep pace in the playoff hunt in their respective conferences. Minnesota needs a win to stay clear of the glut of seven-loss teams in the NFC; Cincinnati needs a win to try to break out of the group of seven-win teams in the AFC.
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Best anytime touchdown bets for Week 15 Vikings vs. Bengals
All odds courtesy of DraftKings as of Friday afternoon.
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (+190)
Hockenson's led the team in targets in 2023 and that likely won't change this week. Mullens may rely on Hockenson as a security blanket given how the Bengals have played wide receivers this season. Cincinnati's defense has allowed nine touchdowns to wide receivers in 2023, including just one in the last three games. By contrast, that unit's allowed two scores to tight ends in the last three games, including the likes of Mo Alie-Cox and Evan Engram. Hockenson is a better tight end than both players and could find the endzone for Minnesota.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (+140)
The Vikings haven't allowed a touchdown of any sort since Week 11. Neither the Chicago Bears nor the Raiders could find the end zone in their matchups against Minnesota. The Vikings' defense has been especially stingy against running backs and tight ends with just 10 total touchdowns allowed to those positions all season. It'll be hard to score but outside receivers are the best bet against Minnesota. In the Vikings' last four games, opposing outside wide receivers have led their teams in yards and touchdowns. Chase is one of the best outside wide receivers in the NFL and makes him the Bengals' best bet here.
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler (+165)
Cincinnati's run defense is eighth-worst in the league in yards allowed per game. In the Bengals' last five games, their defense has allowed six touchdowns to running backs. Minnesota's rushing offense is one of the worst in the league by yards and touchdowns but this'll be a good opportunity to have a strong perfornace against an easier opponent. Chandler's getting the start over injured starter Alexander Mattison and could make the most of it.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (+245)
If Chase doesn't find the end zone, look for Cincinnati's other outside threat to do so for the first time in a while. Higgins hasn't scored since Week 2 and has just five catches combined in his last two games since returning from injury. This could be his chance to get back on track at home against the Vikings.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Week 15 top anytime touchdown scorer bets, props for Vikings-Bengals
