Diontae Johnson
ATD +210 (bet365)
We’re going to start the week by taking a player who we know is going to get looks.
Johnson has 78 targets this season but hasn’t caught a touchdown yet. The good news is that Kenny Pickett is getting more reps in practice and the Steelers are coming off their bye week. Johnson is averaging more than 10 targets per game when Pickett starts, so their chemistry will hopefully continue to develop.
The Saints have given up eight touchdowns to opposing wide receivers this season, but their defense is not on the same level as some of the Steelers’ recent opponents like the Buccaneers, Bills and Eagles.
I think we’re getting a bit of value here because if Johnson had scored even once with Pickett, we’d be looking at closer to +150.
If you don’t have access to bet365, Johnson was +195 to score at FanDuel as of Saturday at 5 p.m. ET.
Allen Lazard
ATD +240 (bet365)
As much as I love my Cowboys, I think their defense is getting a bit too much credit here.
Dallas has given up seven touchdowns to opposing wide receivers in eight games. If the Cowboys have a weakness, it’s in the secondary.
For Lazard, the trust factor is there with Aaron Rodgers, which is important given where the Packers offense currently is. Lazard missed two games earlier this season but still leads the team in targets.
Lazard has caught a touchdown in five of seven games this season, including three of four at Lambeau Field.
I expect the Packers to make this a tight game. Lazard should get another scored along the way.
Hopefully you can get +240 at bet365. If not, DraftKings has Lazard at +225.
Adam Thielen
ATD +290 (PointsBet)
Thielen is still playing 95% of snaps this season, and he’s still getting plenty of looks in the red zone. Thielen has 10 red-zone targets this season, which ranks just outside the top 20 in the NFL. Six of those looks have come inside the 10-yard line.
This number from PointsBet is easily the highest number on Thielen of the season. The next biggest was +190 in Week 4 against the Eagles.
The Bills secondary is without multiple starters and can be thrown on. Buffalo has only given up eight touchdowns to opposing wide receivers this season, but five of those have come over the last three games.
The longest touchdown drought of Thielen’s career since Kirk Cousins got to the Vikings is two games. Well, he’s at two straight without a touchdown right now.
Ryan Tannehill
ATD +750 (PointsBet)
Tannehill has only one touchdown on the ground this season, but it looks like he’s healthy and ready to return from an ankle injury.
I especially like this spot for Tannehill at home. Last season, he ran for seven touchdowns, five of which came in Nashville.
In terms of the matchup, Denver won’t be easy to score on. The Broncos have allowed five rushing touchdowns this season compared to only two through the air.
Derrick Henry is going to get the lion share of carries, but we’ve seen him act as a decoy near the goal line, like in Week 4 when Tannehill ran in for a touchdown.
At these odds, I’m willing to take a swing on the player who was the second-most-profitable ATD scorer last season.
