Week 1 of the NFL’s preseason is upon us, with the action set to continue on Thursday night following a shootout between the Panthers and Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game.
Below, I will highlight some of my favorite ‘Anytime TD’ betting angles — traded on Kalshi — that you can take when wagering on Thursday's NFL preseason slate.
Let's break down my NFL anytime touchdown picks for Thursday, August 13.
NFL Preseason Week 1 Anytime Touchdown Scorers
| Picks |
|---|
| Lions vs Bengals |
| Packers vs Steelers |
| Colts vs Patriots |
| Cardinals vs Raiders |
Lions vs. Bengals
The Bengals will host the Lions on Thursday evening at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, with both teams looking to start their NFL preseason schedules on a positive note.
For my first ‘Anytime TD’ wager, I favor backing Bengals WR Colbie Young to find the back of the end zone.
After having spent two years at WR at both Miami and Georgia, Cincinnati selected Young in the fourth round at 140th overall in this past April’s NFL Draft.
The former Bulldog is turning heads at training camp and making strides towards earning a prominent role in the Bengals’ offense prior to the 2026-27 NFL season.
At 6'4", 220 lbs, Colbie is a high-point specialist who is borderline unstoppable on 50/50 balls, given his huge frame and phenomenal hands.
The Bengals’ rookie is very versatile, thriving on both the outside and in the slot, and will surely be competing with WR Andre Iosivas for reps as the team’s WR3 this season. Young also has some very impressive speed for his size, having been clocked at 4.49 at the NFL Combine.
While the Bengals’ youngster opened at a higher price to score a TD on Thursday night, Young has since been absolutely steamed prior to the team’s first preseason matchup.
Given how impressive Colbie has been in training camp and his need to make an immediate impact throughout the preseason to earn a role in the Bengals’ offense, I am definitely willing to take a shot on the rookie to score a TD on Thursday night in Cincinnati.
Verdict: Colbie Young Anytime Time Touchdown YES (29¢)
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Packers vs. Steelers
The Steelers and Packers will duke it out on Thursday night at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh in what carries a thrilling storyline, as QB Aaron Rodgers and HC Mike McCarthy are set to face their former Green Bay squad.
While Rodgers is not expected to suit up in Thursday’s preseason matchup, the Steelers have a ton of depth at the QB position, with longtime backup Mason Rudolph, Ohio State product Will Howard and former Penn State QB Drew Allar all set to see plenty of reps.
The Steelers also boast some impressive depth at the RB position, as former Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson will play behind both Jaylen Warren and former Panther Rico Dowdle for snaps in Pittsburgh’s backfield.
While Johnson is currently listed as the Steelers’ third-string RB, the second-year talent will see a ton of run in the second half of Thursday’s matchup, with Warren and Dowdle likely not seeing more than a series or two.
Johnson excels at passing the line of scrimmage, reading zone/gap blocking schemes and waiting for lanes to open up, with an uncanny ability to find holes in the line and break free for long rushes.
At 6'0", 220 lbs, the former Hawkeye is very compact and thus very difficult to bring to the ground, with the 22-year-old excelling at bouncing off arm tackles and falling forward for maximum yardage.
In a game I expect Johnson to see at least 10 carries, I think his price tag to score a TD on Thursday night has tremendous value.
Verdict: Kaleb Johnson Anytime Touchdown YES (16¢)
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Colts vs. Patriots
The Patriots will host the Colts on Thursday night at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., as both teams look to start their respective preseason schedules with a big victory.
For my ‘Anytime TD’ selection in this AFC clash, I favor backing Colts backup QB Anthony Richardson Sr. to find the end zone in a game he should be very motivated to impress.
At 6'4" and over 230 lbs, the former Florida Gator boasts some elite size, strength and athleticism at the QB position, which led to Richardson being a top prospect out of college, with Indianapolis having selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
While Richardson’s NFL career has been somewhat of a disaster thus far, with the 24-year-old having failed to make an immediate impact at the next level amid accuracy concerns, he enters the Colts’ 2026 campaign with a ton to prove as the team’s backup QB behind Daniel Jones.
The Florida product posted just a 60.2% adjusted accuracy rate in 2024, which was the worst among every QB with at least 200 dropbacks from 2015-2025.
That said, I definitely expect the Colts’ playcalling on Thursday night to be built towards Richardson’s strengths, with several designed runs for Indianapolis’ youngster.
Verdict: Anthony Richardson Anytime Touchdown YES (20¢)
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Cardinals vs. Raiders
In the last game I will be covering for Thursday night’s NFL preseason slate, the Cardinals and Raiders will square off at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas.
For my ‘Anytime TD’ bet for Thursday’s preseason matchup, I favor backing former Notre Dame RB and fourth overall NFL Draft selection Jeremiyah Love to find the back of the end zone in a game I expect him to see plenty of reps in a crowded Arizona backfield.
In his last two years in South Bend, Love went on an absolute tear, having recorded just shy of 2,500 rushing yards and scoring 35 rushing TDs in the process.
Love has breakout speed and an unmatched explosive-play ability, evident through his scoring both a 94- and 98-yard TD for the Fighting Irish. Love boasts impressive versatility out of the backfield, catching 55 passes for upwards of 500 receiving yards over his last two seasons.
At the Combine, the Notre Dame product impressed scouts by running a 4.36 40-yard dash, further displaying Love’s lightning breakaway speed.
In what will be Love’s first game in an NFL uniform, this should be a prime spot to back the former Fighting Irish RB to hit paydirt, starting his first NFL game with an exceptional performance on Thursday night.
Verdict: Jeremiyah Love Anytime Touchdown YES (22¢)
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