Week 8 of the NFL season kicks off with the Minnesota Vikings visiting the Los Angeles Chargers on "Thursday Night Football."
The Vikings have alternated wins and losses each week this season and are coming off a 28-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Meanwhile, the Chargers won three straight to open the year but have dropped three of their past four, including last week's 38-24 loss at home to the Indianapolis Colts. After a brief stint as the favorites in the AFC West, the Chargers are now the third choice to win the division (+400), trailing the resurgent Kansas City Chiefs (-135) and Denver Broncos (+225).
The Vikings, who will stick with Carson Wentz as their starter at QB this week, are 3.5-point underdogs Thursday night.
Matt Bowen, Pamela Maldonado, Eric Moody and Seth Walder offer their picks, prop plays and analysis to help you bet the game.
Note: Odds at time of publication. For the latest updates, visit ESPN BET Sportsbook.
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Game picks | Prop bets | Betting trends

Game bets
Notable player props, bets
Mike Clay explains why Keenan Allen has been a surprise fantasy success so far this season.
Jordan Mason to score Anytime TD (+115)
Maldonado: The Chargers' run defense is collapsing, having allowed seven rushing touchdowns over the past three games and a league-high rate of running back runs resulting in a first down or score. Mason owns all of Minnesota's inside carries, has found the end zone four times in his past four games, and, with over 70% of the backfield touches in three straight weeks, he carries real spike potential for two scores (+750).
Jordan Addison to go OVER 55.5 receiving yards (-115)
Moody: Addison has surpassed this number in two of his three games played this season and has seen 26 targets. He has developed strong chemistry with quarterback Carson Wentz, and with defenses focused on containing Justin Jefferson, Addison is well-positioned to take advantage.
Keenan Allen to go OVER 5.5 receptions (+105)
Bowen: Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert will see pressure from a Vikings defense that has a 38% blitz rate (second highest in the league), and that opens the door for Allen to make himself available on quicks and underneath throws. Allen has seen at least seven targets in every game played this season, so expect the volume to stay up on Thursday night. Allen, who in Week 5 became the fastest to 1,000 career receptions in NFL history, is seven catches from tying Antonio Gates for the most in Chargers franchise history.
Quentin Johnston to record 80+ receiving yards (+300)
Walder: Three seconds into pass plays, Johnston is, on average, already 11.7 yards downfield -- sixth-deepest among wide receivers with at least 100 routes run, per NFL Next Gen Stats. And 23% of his routes are either deep fades or go routes (second most). What does that tell us? He's a high-risk, high-reward type of player. Which is why I (and my receiving yards model) look to the alt lines on players like him. Johnston is probably more likely than the average receiver whose regular over/under prop line is 48.5 to finish under 20 yards. But he's also more likely to hit 80-plus. That's the play here; to take advantage of Johnston's wider range of outcomes thanks to his route profile.
Betting trends
Courtesy of ESPN Research
The Chargers are 0-4 ATS in their past four games.
The Chargers are 4-0 ATS on short rest under Jim Harbaugh.
Five of the Vikings' six games have gone over the total, including the past four.
The Vikings are 14-6 ATS on the road since the start of 2023.