No, anytime TDs do not include passing TDs.
Anytime touchdown bets are awarded to the player who crosses the goal line with the ball or catches it in the end zone. At FanDuel, their definition of an anytime TD scorer is "any player who carries or receives the ball in the end zone." The same is true for first TD scorer.
That means if you bet a quarterback and he throws a touchdown pass, you will not win that bet. He needs to run the ball in to be considered an anytime touchdown scorer.
How Anytime TDs Work
An anytime touchdown bet offers bettors the opportunity to wage on what appears as an uncomplicated event with attractive odds.
Most players are priced at plus money, but there are the dozen or so running backs or receivers that will be at minus. Books will calculate odds on each player based on their estimated probability of scoring, and then add a heavy vig.
Factors to consider when betting ATDs include offensive volume, red zone usage, recent performance and the matchup.
Why Are QBs Priced So Low?
When looking at the options for an anytime touchdown scorer at any sportsbook, you'll note that quarterbacks are generally low on the list with high odds.
So why would the position that handles the ball every play have high odds of scoring a touchdown? The quarterback would need to carry the ball into the end zone — or catch on a trick play— himself to earn the credit.
There are of course quarterbacks who score on the ground more frequently than others. Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen will often be priced around +150, while a pocket-passer like Geno Smith or Jared Goff will be around +600 to score on the ground.
Take Allen for example, who heading into Week 8 of 2022 against the Packers was priced at +120. This is because it's always plausible Allen will run the ball in when the Bills are near the goal line. He had racked up 33 rushing scores in his career to that point.
But if Allen's passing touchdowns were included, he'd be priced around -1000.
Jalen Hurts is next in line at +150 against the Steelers. He'd tallied 19 rushing touchdowns throughout parts of three seasons. It then drops to Kyler Murray at +210 before Daniel Jones at +250 (Patrick Mahomes is on a bye).
From there, bettors may want to consider another position for their player prop outside the few quarterbacks that at least present some probability.
