I don't know what's more surprising: Deshaun Watson's career-180 through three games this season or Aaron Rodgers turning back the clock for a big game last week. Regardless, both still have more work to do before earning the trust of the betting community. Especially in a hard-nosed AFC North divisional clash in a short week.
When it comes to picking touchdown scorers, the Week 4 Thursday night game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers is all about the run. Because of the quarterbacks, yes, but also because grinding it out on the ground is the best way to beat each defense.
These are my favorite anytime touchdown scorer picks for Thursday Night Football.
Jaylen Warren (-105)
This bet requires some belief that two parallel droughts will end at the same
time. Jaylen Warren hasn't scored a touchdown this season, and the Browns haven't allowed a touchdown to a running back. But all signs point to both falling Thursday. Warren is coming off his first 100-yard game of the year, and a season-high 17 carries. And the Browns are giving up 120 rushing yards per game, on a healthy 4.5 yards per carry. I'll take that bet.
Darnell Washington (+600)
Pittsburgh's run-blocking tight end should see the field quite a bit if the Steelers run the way I expect them too. It's no surprise Washington was on the field for a season-high 75 percent of snaps during Warren's big game last week. He also saw a season-high four targets for three catches and 67 yards, outpacing Pat Freiermuth (+360). He's a good long-shot candidate to benefit from Warren carries with a potential play-action score.
Quinshon Judkins (+120)
It's been a rough start to the year for Judkins, but before last week's shootout with the Bengals, the only players to score on Pittsburgh were running backs. And Cleveland doesn't exactly have Ja'Marr Chase or Tee Higgins running routes out there -- or Joe Burrow throwing them the ball. So, I think the conservative approach is the right call here. There's room to run on Pittsburgh, and Judkins is at least coming off his best game of the season, with 18 carries for 70 yards against Carolina.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Steelers-Browns anytime touchdown scorer predictions for Thursday Night Football
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