NFL 2026 Wild Card Anytime Touchdown Scorer Predictions: Best Bets for Sunday, January 11

NFL 2026 Wild Card weekend is here, and we are one step closer to Super Bowl LX! Last night, we saw some late-night action with a Chicago Bears comeback over the Green Bay Packers. Let's keep it rolling on Sunday!

(Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)

Today marks the first round of the NFL playoffs, and 14 teams will fight for the Lombardi Trophy. Sunday's Wild Card Round will include three highly-anticipated matchups!

First up, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills (12-5, 5-2 away) will square off against Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4, 7-2 home).  A classic No. 6 vs. No. 3 seed, the Bills are now 1.5-point spread underdogs on the road! Scoring the fourth-most touchdowns this season with 62, the Bills have a potent offense under Allen and James Cook. For Jacksonville, they scored 55 touchdowns on the season. Under newly minted head coach Liam Cohen, the Jaguars have surprised bettors the most.

Next, there's an NFC showdown between Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles (11-6, 5-3 home) vs. Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers (12-5, 7-2 away). Again, another No. 6 vs. No. 3 seeded matchup, the Eagles are 5.5-point spread favorites at home.  Scoring 46 touchdowns this season, the Eagles' offense has regressed from last season. With running back Christian McCaffrey steering the ship, the 49ers have scored 49 touchdowns this season. San Francisco has been handed numerous injuries, while the Eagles have had communication issues with receivers.

Last up, Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers (11-6, 5-3 away) will face Drake Maye and the New England Patriots (14-3, 6-3 home). In a No. 7 vs. No. 2 matchup, the Patriots are 3-point spread and -196 moneyline favorites at home. Boasting one of the best seasons in quite some time, New England scored the third-most touchdowns on the season with 58. For Herbert and company, the Chargers scored just 36 tuddies.

Touchdown Scorers NFL Wild Card Weekend

Here are my three best bets and touchdown predictions that include top running backs and quarterbacks. Below are the top plays for NFL Wild Card Weekend on Sunday, Jan. 4. Games will kick off at 1 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on CBS, Fox, and NBC/Peacock.  If you're tailing my bets, I've placed them within Fanatics and FanDuel Sportsbook.

• Travis Etienne Anytime Touchdown Scorer
• Josh Allen Anytime Touchdown Scorer
• Christian McCaffrey Anytime Touchdown Scorer

Are you in search of further NFL and sports betting promotions? We have compiled a list of the best sports betting offers here. 

NFL Wild Card Best Bets: Anytime Touchdown Scorer Predictions for Sunday, January 11

Travis Etienne Jr. Anytime TD Odds: -140 (FanDuel)

I'm taking Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. to score a touchdown Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

Lately, it's been Trevor Lawrence who's been running the ball in for a touchdown over the past couple of weeks, but I am fading that today.

Etienne had another successful season, tallying 1,000+ rushing yards and finishing with seven touchdowns on the season. While LeQuint Allen Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten are part of the running back team, it's clear Etienne is the clear No. 1. back. Not to mention, Etienne Jr. has six receiving touchdowns (11 overall) on the season.

Although Etienne hasn't found the end zone in three weeks, it is worrisome that he hasn't rushed for a touchdown in four weeks. A viable option to cross the plane tonight, he's scored four rushing touchdowns over the past four weeks. That includes three against the New York Jets.

Why Travis Etienne Jr. Can Score a Touchdown Sunday

Leading all Jacksonville running backs with a 691 snap count in the regular season,  Etienne Jr. was considered one of the most efficient goal-line backs all season. Rushing for 152 red zone yards on 51 attempts, he scored five rushing and receiving touchdowns inside the 20-yard line.

Sure, the odds are a bit juiced, but there's still value there. We have to remember, this is a Bills defense that has been porous at times, ranking No. 31 in defensive rush DVOA.

Also, let's not forget this is a Buffalo team that allowed the sixth-most rushing yards per game to running backs (107.6) and the most rushing touchdowns on the season (18). Having ranked No. 31 in rush EPA, there are plenty of scoring opportunities for Etienne Jr. That's if Cohen commits to the run game.

Scoring six touchdowns over the last five games, Etienne Jr. has a prime matchup against the Bills. Plus, the Bills' linebacker corps is banged up now that Terrel Bernard has been ruled out, and Shaq Thompson is questionable.

Final NFL Wild Card Anytime Touchdown Betting Prediction: Travis Etienne Jr. ATS Odds: -140 (Fanatics)

The Bills haven't given up a touchdown to running backs over the past three weeks,  but allowed multiple touchdowns to Chase Brown, Sean Tucker, De'Von Achane, and Derrick Henry in the regular season.

• I'm taking Travis Etienne Jr. to score a touchdown on NFL Wild Card Weekend Sunday. 

Josh Allen Anytime TD Odds: -125 (FanDuel)

Today, I'm taking Bills quarterback Josh Allen to score a touchdown against the Jaguars.

Allen is one of the most elite rushing quarterbacks and led the NFL in regular-season rushing yards (579) and rushing touchdowns (14).

The books favor Allen to score a touchdown today, and he goes against a top Jaguars defense. Let's not forget this is a Jacksonville team that's allowed the fifth-most rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks.

Although the usage of running back James Cook has been hot and cold, Allen has been somewhat of a reliable touchdown option. Opting to sit in Week 18, Allen finished with 27 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Eagles in Week 17.

Why Josh Allen Can Score a Touchdown Today

With the season on the line, Allen makes magical things happen when it's a must-win scenario. We saw that with two touchdowns against the Ravens in the AFC Divisional Round last season. He's especially been hot in the back end of the season, tallying six touchdowns over the last seven games played.

I'm fairly confident about this touchdown prop bet, given that Josh Allen has 34 carries over the last four games played. Averaging 5.2 yards per carry on the season, we know he's both a long and short run threat.

Final NFL Wild Card Anytime Touchdown Betting Prediction: Josh Allen ATS Odds: -125 (FanDuel)

I'm truly surprised the odds are this low, considering Allen may be the best rushing quarterback of all time. The fastest and youngest player to record 300 touchdowns, Allen has rushed for 79 career touchdowns! In six years of playoff matchups, he has seven rushing touchdowns alone.

• I'm taking Josh Allen to score a touchdown tonight. This is one of my best bets, considering that the Jaguars rank fourth in defensive rush DVOA, and allow the fifth-fewest touchdowns to running backs. This should open the door for Allen against a strong pass rush that includes Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. 

Christian McCaffrey Anytime TD Odds: -125 (Fanatics)

On Sunday, I'm rolling with 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey to score a touchdown against the Eagles.

There's no question that McCaffrey has been a critical part of the offense, especially with injuries to Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, and George Kittle. That said, Brock Purdy could have all his weapons back today.

This is a decent matchup for McCaffrey, who faces an Eagles defense that allows the ninth-most touchdowns to running backs. Let's not forget that he's equally efficient in the pass game as he is in the run game. And in the playoffs, we never know what head coach Kyle Shanahan has up his sleeve.

Towards the back half of the season, we saw Chris Rodriguez, Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, and Kyle Monangai score touchdowns against the Eagles. Not to mention, McCaffrey finished out the season with 10 rushing and seven receiving touchdowns. Tallying over 2,000 yards of offense, he's a strong play tonight.

Final NFL Wild Card Anytime Touchdown Betting Prediction: Christian McCaffrey ATS Odds: -125 (Fanatics)

McCaffrey didn't have much luck, rushing for just 23 yards last week against a stingy Seahawks defense. Rushing for 72, 117, and 140 yards in the weeks prior, he has 20+ carries in five of the last six games. Boasting a 3.2 touchdown percentage, this may be the most popular pick of the day.

• I'm taking Christian McCaffrey to score a touchdown on Sunday. He is the heartbeat of the offense, and he gets an Eagles team that allowed 17 touchdowns to running backs this season.