Vikings vs Chargers Anytime Touchdown Scorer Predictions: NFL Best Bets for Thursday, October 23

NFL week 8 has arrived, and there's a Thursday night matchup ahead featuring the Vikings and Chargers!

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers (4-3, 2-2 home) will host Carson Wentz and the Minnesota Vikings (3-3, 2-1 away).

Questionable to suit up; there's been plenty of chattering going around about the health of Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. While the Vikings are 3-3 on the season, they are coming off a 28-22 week 7 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. Securing two field goals in the fourth quarter, Minnesota couldn't get it done, as backup quarterback Carson Wentz threw for 313 passing yards and two interceptions.

Sitting in a competitive NFC North division, the Vikings have now dropped two of the last three to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Eagles. Considered one of the least effective teams on the offensive side of things, their defense has kept them in (some) games this season.

It's tough to read this Vikings team, who have core players in receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. With a healthy T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Mason, this offense is stacked. The question and the weakness still lie in the quarterback's hands.

Los Angeles Chargers Are Moneyline Favorites At Home Thursday Night

Blessed with a home game, the Chargers are fresh off a 38-24 loss against Daniel Jones and the Colts. Yes, you read that correctly—Daniel Jones. 1-3 in their last four games, the offense has picked up some. However, they are 2-4-1 against the spread this season, and the defense has allowed an average of 32.5 points over the last two games.

3-point spread favorites and moneyline betting leaders, the Chargers last matched up and beat the Vikings 28-24 in 2023. 2-4 against Minnesota since 2007, the Chargers haven't beaten the Vikings at home since 2007!

Bolt Up Nation vs. Skol: who will get the win tonight? Can the Vikings get past a weak Chargers defense? Would Herbert and company be able to take advantage of a Minnesota team that's shaky at quarterback? The Vikings are coming off a BYE week, while the Chargers are coming off a short week!

Let's take a look at my best bets and anytime touchdown scorer predictions for Thursday, October 23, NFL matchup featuring the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Chargers.

All of my bets in this article were made separately within FanDuel Sportsbook.

NFL Week 8 Best Bets: Vikings vs Chargers Anytime Touchdown Scorer Predictions for Thursday, October 23

Jordan Mason Anytime TD Odds: +165 (FanDuel)

2025-2026 NFL Stats

GP: 6  | Carries: 84 | Rushing Yards: 380 | Avg Rushing: 4.5 | Rush TD:4 | Rec TD: 0 | Rush Long: 24 | First Down: 37

Although Aaron Jones will be activated off the IR tonight, I'm not sure what his snap count will look like under head coach Kevin O'Connell. A decent backup for Christian McCaffrey in San Francisco, Mason has had a fairly productive season in place of Jones.

In six games, he's recorded 84 carries, 380 rushing yards, and four rushing touchdowns. Facing a stingy Eagles and Browns defense, Mason was bottled up for 52 and 57 rushing yards over the last two weeks. There's good news for bettors: Mason has scored a touchdown against both of them. Can he find the end zone for the third straight week?

This year, we've seen Mason explode for 116 rushing yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns against the Cincinnati Bengals in week 3. With four touchdowns over the last four weeks, I love the odds at +165. We are talking about a running back who played 77 percent of snaps last week, although that may change with Jones back in the equation. Just how healthy will Jones be? He hasn't seen the field since week 2.

Will Jordan Mason Split Carries With Aaron Jones Thursday Night?

He leads all Vikings running backs with a 237 snap count and boasts a strong 4.8 rushing touchdown percentage. Receiving 15.5 touches per game, Mason isn't the most efficient yards after contact back. However, he's been the lead back at the goal line with 42 rushing yards on 14 attempts. Not only has he scored all four touchdowns inside the 20, but they've all come inside the five!

If Mason remains the goal back, this is a decent matchup for him, considering the Vikings allow the seventh-most touchdowns to running backs. Ranking No. 16 in defensive rush DVOA, we are talking about a Minnesota defense that hasn't been able to stop RB1s!

Since October 5, the Vikings have allowed six touchdowns over the last three weeks, and three straight multi-touchdowns to running backs. It's been a joy to watch Jonathan Taylor (3), De'Von Achane (2), and Jacory Croskey-Merritt (2) all find the end zone multiple times against Minnesota.

Final NFL Anytime Touchdown Vikings vs Chargers Betting Prediction: Jordan Mason ATS Odds: +165 (FanDuel)

Not to mention, the Vikings have allowed an average of 99 rushing yards to RB1s over the last five weeks. With linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel out for the Vikings, the Vikings' defense worsens. The only issue is that several players on the Vikings' offensive line are listed as questionable. That includes Christian Darrisaw and Brian O'Neil.

• I'm taking Jordan Mason to score a touchdown Thursday night. Over the last two weeks, he's put up two touchdowns, 28 carries, and a total of 109 rushing yards. Given that Minnesota holds a 52.4 scoring percentage in the red zone, the Chargers allow opponents to score 50 percent of the time!

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T.J. Hockenson Anytime TD Odds: +250 (+440 Boost on FanDuel)

2025-2026 NFL Stats

GP: 6 | Receptions: 25 | Targets: 33 | Receiving Yards: 196 | Avg: 7.8 | Rec TD: 1 | Rush TD: 0 | Long Rec: 14 | First Down: 9

My second-best bet for Thursday night, I placed one unit on Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson to score a touchdown. With +240 odds, I received a 100 percent boost (+440) on FanDuel.

Considered a premier NFL tight end when healthy, Hockenson is the third receiving option for Minnesota behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. In fact, he's second on the team in receptions (25), targets (33), and has put up 196 receiving yards through six games.

Why T.J. Hockenson Can Score A Touchdown Tonight

Leading all tight ends with a 303 snap count, Josh Oliver remains in the offense, but was limited to 45 percent of snaps in week 5.

Among a group of potent receivers, Hockenson has averaged around 30-45 yards over the last four weeks and has failed to break 50 receiving yards this season. Don't let that fool you, he has just one touchdown in week three against the Bengals, I know. This year, the Chargers give up the eighth-most touchdowns to tight ends!

In fact, tight ends Tyler Warren (Colts) and Darren Waller (Dolphins) have scored a touchdown in two straight weeks against Los Angeles. Allowing tight ends to score in three of the last four weeks, look for Hockenson to keep it rolling tonight.

Final NFL Anytime Touchdown Vikings vs Chargers Betting Prediction: T.J. Hockenson ATS Odds: +240 (+440 Boost FanDuel)

Whether Wentz or McCarthy is under center tonight, Hockenson leads all Vikings tight ends with seven targets and five receptions inside the 20. Putting up 43 receiving yards, he's averaged 8.6 yards per reception in the red zone. That's good enough for a 63.6 percent target percentage!

• I'm taking T.J. Hockenson to score a touchdown tonight. While the receiving yards haven't been there, he does have 12 receptions and 15 targets over the last two games. While the Chargers' defense has been flaky, they do rank No. 13 in defensive passing DVOA. He's gotten plenty of targets from Wentz and is coming off nine last week!

Quentin Johnston Anytime TD Odds: +170 ( FanDuel)

2025-2026 NFL Stats

My third-best bet for today, I placed one unit on Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston to record a touchdown for +170 odds on FanDuel.

Active and ready to go, Johnston is having a breakout year. In his third season with the Chargers, he's recorded 28 receptions, 47 targets, 407 receiving yards, and five touchdowns.

Under quarterback Justin Herbert and OC Greg Roman, he leads all Chargers receivers with five touchdowns. I personally will say I did not see that coming with a crowded receiving room that includes Ladd McConkey and Keenan Allen.

While the Chargers' offense couldn't keep up with the Colts last week, it was Johnston who scored a seven-yard touchdown from Herbert in the third quarter.

While this is a popular pick, it's easy to see why, especially with value at +170 odds. Not only does he lead LA in touchdowns, but he's also easily Herbert's favorite target in the red zone. Scoring touchdowns against the Colts and Giants over the last three weeks, he's coming off six targets alone last week.

Is Quentin Johnson The Chargers' WR1?

While his receiving yard production has been up and down, he's a scoring threat. Second in snaps on the season (353), Johnston played the most (89 %) of any receiver last week.

Although he doesn't lead the pack in red zone targets, he's caught 4-of-7 for 26 yards and two touchdowns. Not just a short yard threat, he's averaging 95.3 air yards per game, and pulling up 17.5 percent of team targets.

Remember when Quentin Johnston connected for a 60-yard touchdown against Justin Herbert earlier this year against the Las Vegas Raiders? He has that capability!  Not to mention, the Vikings rank No. 17 in defensive passing DVOA, and have given up touchdowns to DeVonta Smith and Isaiah Bond over the last three weeks.

Giving up five touchdowns to receivers, the Vikings' defense is in the top 12. However, I like this matchup against Byron Murphy Jr.  A deep threat, we can't count Johnston out tonight. Let's be real. We just saw DeVona Smith, A.J. Brown, and Jalen Hurts destroy the Vikings defensively.

Final NFL Anytime Touchdown Vikings vs Chargers Betting Prediction: Quentin Johnston ATS Odds: +170 ( FanDuel)

With injuries to Hampton and Harris in the run game, the Vikings rank No. 16 in defensive rush DVOA. Given the Chargers call pass plays 68.4 percent of the time, I'm banking on Herbert to get it down through the air tonight.

• I'm taking Quentin Johnson to score a touchdown tonight. It was a bit concerning that he put up a 9.1% target share last week and struggles against two-high defenses. He's been the most reliable.