The Ravens and Chiefs open the 2024-25 NFL season on Thursday night (8:20 p.m. ET) from GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Beyond spread and over/under bets, I'm taking a look at Ravens vs Chiefs player props — specifically anytime touchdown scorers for Thursday Night Football.
Here are my two picks for the opening game.
Gilles Gallant's Ravens vs. Chiefs Player Props
Isiah Pacheco +110
I'm starting a bit chalky, but I think Isiah Pacheco is the guy we want here. He’s the Chiefs' workhorse back now after averaging over 20 carries per game in the playoffs last season.
Not only that, but Pacheco scored in three of the four Chiefs playoff games and finished the year with touchdowns in seven of the final eight games.
He also had the eighth-most red zone carries in the NFL last year (42) despite missing three games. No other Chiefs running back had more than seven carries inside the opponent's 20-yard-line.
With most Chiefs players having steamed odds, I'll take Pacheco when he's plus-money, especially since he had minus odds to score in 10-of-14 games last season.
Zay Flowers +210
My second selection — Ravens receiver Zay Flowers — scored a touchdown in five of the final seven games of last season.
I was going back and forth between Flowers or Mark Andrews — both operate out of the slot — but I chose the receiver because he became Lamar Jackson's go-to receiver last season when Andrews went down. In fact, Flowers had four touchdowns in six games without Andrews active.
The Chiefs' secondary is still decent, but it regressed with cornerback L'Jarius Sneed gone. The now-Titans cornerback typically covered slot receivers, and his departure may force the Chiefs to play more zone.
That's not a positive for Kansas City as it ranked top-five in man coverage rate in 2023-24.
Also, with Flowers entering his second year, I think he'll be better, more explosive and more efficient. And it doesn't hurt that this is a bit of a "revenge game" narrative for him since he fumbled near the goal line in the AFC Championship Game.
I would play Flowers down to +200.
