It’s a massive game for James Cook and the Buffalo Bills on “Thursday Night Football.” At 7-3, they can’t afford to fall further behind the Patriots in the AFC East race. That means taking care of business against the Houston Texans, another team in the Wild Card picture. Their running attack will be a central focus on Thursday night.
The Bills enter as six-point road favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, while the Texans are listed as +235 underdogs. The game’s total is set at 43.5 points. Here is my top James Cook player prop for Thursday’s matchup between the Bills and Texans.
Best James Cook Player Prop Bet
James Cook’s rushing output has been boom-bust all season long. Through 10 games, he’s averaging nearly 100 yards rushing per game. But that hasn’t come with a lot of consistency. Through 10 games, Cook has five performances with 100+ rushing yards; he also has three with less than 50. It’s a feast-or-famine Buffalo offense, to the surprise of many.
Now Cook gets a matchup with an impressive Houston rushing defense. They’re top five in fewest rushing yards allowed and rushing yards allowed per attempt. That elite front seven, led by Will Anderson Jr., has been causing problems for opposing rush attacks all season long.
My inclination towards a Cook bust week on the ground is high. But he still has a high overall floor with his increased involvement in the passing game. After three straight weeks without a catch, Cook has put up 101 combined yards across the last three games. His raised floor gives him all-around appeal in a game that is of utmost importance to Buffalo. Even if the Texans can hold him in check on the ground, he can produce through the air.
