NFL Week 5 Touchdown Scorer Best Bets

The 2024-2025 NFL season is passing the quarter mark this weekend. Our experts offer their best bets on first touchdown and anytime scorers for Week 5, as well as one longshot to consider:

Predictions

Pick #1 - Anytime touchdown scorer: Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens (-170)

Pick #2 - Anytime touchdown scorer: Jeremy McNichols, RB, Washington Commanders (+550)

Pick #3 - First touchdown scorer: Jordan Mason, RB, San Francisco 49ers (+350)

PICK #1: Anytime Touchdown Scorer: Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens (-170)

Second-year Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken certainly got the memo. After free agent running back Derrick Henry rushed for just 130 yards on 31 carries through the first 2 weeks of the season, both Baltimore losses, a change in workload was made – and the results are clear. 

Henry rushed for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns on 25 carries in a 28-25 victory over the host Dallas Cowboys in Week 3, and followed that with 199 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries in a 35-10 beatdown of the Buffalo Bills last week. 

Henry is well on his way to his 3rd straight 1,000-yard season, and 6th overall. He is averaging 6 yards per carry. Henry is also a smart play for first touchdown scorer at the Cincinnati Bengals at +450. 

He scored the first touchdown of the regular season on a 5-yard run against the Kansas City Chiefs in the league opener, and his 87-yard rushing score last week against the Bills came on the Ravens’ first play from scrimmage – opening the scoring in that game as well.

PICK #2: Anytime Touchdown Scorer: Jeremy McNichols, RB, Washington Commanders (+550)

Lost amid the uproar following the Washington Commanders’ 3rd straight win was the job done by backup running back Jeremy McNichols, who replaced Austin Ekeler in the lineup behind feature back Brian Robinson Jr. 

The Commanders’ ground game was electric in the 42-14 victory over the host Arizona Cardinals. Robinson Jr went for 101 yards and 1 rushing touchdown, while standout rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels added 47 yards and another score on the ground. McNichols joined in on the fun. After rushing just once in Washington’s first 3 games, McNichols had 68 yards on 8 carries. That included a 27-yard touchdown early in the second quarter that gave the Commanders the lead for good, and a 7-yard touchdown to close the scoring with 4 minutes, 30 seconds to play in the game.

McNichols is seeing regular season action with his 5th team since he was drafted in the 5th round out of Boise State in 2017, 6 if you count 2 brief stints with the San Francisco 49ers. He might see more of it, too. Ekeler may miss another week with a concussion, and Robinson Jr was listed as questionable during the week with a knee issue. 

PICK #3: First Touchdown Scorer: Jordan Mason, RB, San Francisco 49ers (+350)

Jordan Mason, a 3rd-year back out of Georgia Tech, has been a pleasant surprise in the 49ers backfield this season. With star running back Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve due to tendinitis in both of his Achilles, Mason has stepped in admirably.

Through 4 games, Mason leads the league with 91 carries, and has rushed for 447 yards and 3 touchdowns. He’s averaging 111.8 yards per game, while going for 4.9 yards per carry. Mason has scored in 3 of the 49ers’ 4 contests, and is a solid bet to score the team’s first TD this week at home against Arizona. The Cardinals have allowed 8 rushing touchdowns through 4 games, including 4 alone in the loss to Washington last week.