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It’s been a wild Week 2 in the NFL, and we’ve got an action-packed doubleheader on Monday Night Football to close out the slate. I’ve already covered some first touchdown bets to target for the early game between the Buffalo Bills and the Tennessee Titans, so now it’s time to shift our focus to the nightcap between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Minnesota Vikings.

Without further ado, let’s get to the picks.

A.J. Brown +800

A.J. Brown runs with the ball against the Lions.
A.J. Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the ball during a game against the Detroit Lions | Rey Del Rio/Getty Images

It was an utterly dominant Eagles debut for new No. 1 wide receiver A.J. Brown, as the former Titan went off for 155 receiving yards on 10 catches against the Detroit Lions in Week 1. The only bullet point missing from his stellar performance was a touchdown, but I think he finds the end zone in Week 2.

Brown has talked about how excited he is to play in front of a rowdy, inebriated Philly crowd in an Eagles uniform. The star WR gets to make his home debut under the lights in primetime, so I think he’s going to put on a show in front of his new fans. Brown is my favorite play at the top of the odds board.

Kenneth Gainwell +1700

If you’re targeting a Philadelphia running back to score the first touchdown Monday night, you’d be foolish to bet on Miles Sanders at +950. Yes, he found the end zone last week, but that marked his first score since Week 16 of the 2020 season.

Kenneth Gainwell, on the other hand, has scored eight touchdowns over that same span. He may not look like a goal-line back at 5-foot-9 and 200 pounds, but the Eagles love using him in the red zone behind that powerful offensive line. Gainwell is more likely than Sanders to punch one in Monday night. The +1700 price is just a bonus.

KJ Osborn +2000

The Eagles don’t want to be embarrassed by Justin Jefferson more than they already have. Darius Slay should see a ton of coverage snaps against the talented wideout, and it would be wise for Philly to shade a safety to Jefferson’s side all game after what he did to the Packers’ secondary in Week 1.

That leads me to KJ Osborn, who has scored a touchdown in five of his last seven starts dating back to last season. Osborn has become the clear No. 3 WR on this Minnesota offense, and I think Kirk Cousins will look to him early and often with Jefferson getting so much attention from Philadelphia’s secondary.

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Jack Dougherty

Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies.

When Jack isn’t writing about sports, he’s watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He’s also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sportscasting with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.