The Houston Texans are set to face the Buffalo Bills for their Week 4 game as they are trying to snap a two-game losing streak.
This is a very tough task because the Bills are a better team on paper than the Texans, and their defense is pretty good as well. This is the third straight game the Texans will be facing a defense that is a Top 4 ranked unit in the NFL when it comes to yards allowed per game.
The Bills are ranked fourth in the NFL going into the Week 4 game at 252.7 ypg allowed, while the Week 2 opponent of the Houston Texans, the Cleveland Browns, are ranked third in the NFL (248.7 ypg allowed). The Carolina Panthers are the No. 1 rated defense at 191 ypg allowed, as they were the Texans’ Week 3 opponent.
Having defensive injuries the Texans have this Sunday with players injured or out due to COVID-19 doesn’t help their cause either, but the game still has to be played, and it won’t be an easy task at hand for Houston. Even with that said, here are some player prop bets worth taking an extra look at this Sunday.
All odds listed come courtesy of WynnBet.
Houston Texans: 3 best prop bets for Week 4
3. Davis Mills Passing Touchdowns OVER 0.5 (+175)
The Buffalo Bills have allowed only three passing touchdowns in the first three games combined, so can Houston Texans rookie quarterback Davis Mills have at least one passing touchdown to his credit against the Bills in Week 4?
https://twitter.com/NFLonCBS/status/1443640082674733059?s=20
Mills has two passing touchdowns in the two games he’s played in since replacing Tyrod Taylor who was injured in Week 2. Mills has thrown touchdown passes against the Browns and Panthers, who as stated earlier are two of the best defenses in the league on the stat sheet.
This feat is doable, but sure not a guarantee for the rookie quarterback. The Texans have been able to put together some solid drives inconsistently in thee first three games, so maybe Mills can keep his streak alive with at lest one touchdown pass in this game when the offense is running on all cylinders.
2. Brandin Cooks Receiving Yards UNDER 68.5 (-115)
This one could come true because Houston Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks is the best wide receiver on the team, but that doesn’t help his case in this game against the Buffalo Bills. Cooks has 322 yards receiving in three games this season, and in every game this year he’s caught for over the 69 yards needed to beat this prop bet.
Cooks’ in-game totals in receiving yards for each week so far are 132 yards on five receptions (vs. Jaguars), 78 yards on nine receptions (vs. Browns), and 112 yards on nine receptions (vs. Panthers).
https://twitter.com/PFF_Fantasy/status/1441241222648004615?s=20
Opponents against the Bills this season have 582 combined passing yards, with Antonio Gibson of the Washington Football Team having the most individual receiving yards in a game against the Bills at 73 yards.
With how the rest of the receiving roster is doing right now with injuries either keeping players out of games and on the injured list, the focus of the Bills’ defense can be on Cooks in this Week 4 game. Cooks could beheld to under 69 yards if the Buffalo secondary has a true focus on Cooks, and puts pressure on rookie quarterback Davis Mills.
1. Mark Ingram II rushing yards OVER 31.5 (-112)
In three total games in 2021 Mark Ingram II is the leading rusher for the Houston Texans with 46 carries for 147 yards and one touchdown. In Week 1 Ingram has 85 of his total 147 yards rushing against the now 0-4 Jaguars.
Since then though the success hasn’t returned with 14 carries for 41 yards against the Browns, and six carries for 21 yards last Thursday night against the Panthers. Those two games were losses for the Texans, and they came against two of the best defenses in the league.
Now facing the Bills can Ingram and the rushing game of the Texans step up and be a little more successful? If the Texans want to win they will have to do so, or it will easily be a third straight loss.
Mark Ingram on how defenses are attacking rookie quarterback Davis Mills: 'You have to adjust and adapt to whatever they're showing you'
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 27, 2021
This prop bet isn’t asking Ingram to set a new NFL record, all it is asking is for 32 total rushing yards by the veteran NFL running back. That is also much easier to type than achieve too as Buffalo has allowed nine first downs on the rush.
That defense also has allowed a total of 224 net rushing yards on 66 total rushes in three games. In games this season Najee Harris (Steelers) rushed for 43 yards, Myles Gaskin (Dolphins) rushed for 25 yards, and Antonio Gibson (WFT) had 31 yards rushing.
Those were the game leaders in rushing for Buffalo opponents this season, so it isn’t any guarantee Ingram can have success vs. the vaunted Bills rush defense. Sadly, 32 yards rushing could be very tough for Ingram and the Houston offensive line this Sunday.