The NFL Playoffs continue on Monday night as the Houston Texans hit the road to battle the Pittsburgh Steelers. These two teams are both looking to punch a ticket to the Divisional Round, but it’ll be a tough test for both sides in the cold conditions tonight.
Houston is a three-point road favorite with the game total set at a low 38.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Here are the best Woody Marks prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for Texans vs. Steelers on Monday night’s edition of the NFL Wild Card.
Best Woody Marks prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
A fourth-round pick out of USC, Woody Marks emerged around midseason as the Texans’ starting halfback and didn’t look back. On the full campaign, he tallied 703 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 196 carries, pitching in an additional 24 catches for 208 yards and three touchdowns via the receiving game. That brings his scrimmage numbers to 911 yards and five total touchdowns on the campaign — some respectable marks given that he saw fewer than 10 touches in five of his appearances.
The matchup against the Steelers is enough to give some pause tonight when checking out Marks’ prop bet markets. Pittsburgh allowed 113.1 rushing yards per game (13th) and 4.3 YPC (16th) during the regular season. The unit also ranked third-best in RYOE and eighth in defensive rush EPA. Granted, the Steelers’ front seven wasn’t infallible, allowing 62 rushing yards or fewer to halfback in three of the last four games but also conceding 100+ rushing yards to the position twice over the last five contests (although both of those came at the hands of Derrick Henry and the Ravens).
On DraftKings Sportsbook, Marks’ prop bet lines are set at O/U 16.5 rush attempts, 56.5 rushing yards and a longest rush of 12.5 yards. His receiving lines sit at O/U 1.5 receptions and 10.5 yards. Finally, his +175 odds to score an anytime touchdown are the second-shortest of any player in this game.
Yes, Marks’ ascension to starting status came in exciting fashion this season, and his rise isn’t without cause by any means. He’s had some truly productive games and the Texans should lean on him plenty in this playoff game, especially with recent standout halfback Jahwar Jordan (ankle) out tonight. That volume may not necessarily translate to production though, especially against a defense that has largely stifled the run well against non-elite talents. Marks is nowhere near the caliber of player Derrick Henry and James Cook are, and they’re the only two running backs to truly gash this unit on the ground since Week 12. Against the position, the Steelers allowed just 58 yards to the Browns, 16 yards to the Lions, 62 yards to the Dolphins, and 63 yards to the Bears over that sample.
Marks ran at a clip of just 3.6 YPC during the regular season, placing him 48th among 49 halfbacks to take at least 100 rush attempts. Beyond that, his success percentage of 36.22% ranked 41st of those same 49 players. That doesn’t bode well for his efficiency with players like Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt on the opposite side of the trenches, so while he eclipsed 56.5 rushing yards in four of his last six games, I instead believe he’ll stay under that line tonight.
Best Bet: Woody Marks under 56.5 rushing yards (-112)
Click the odds of this bet to tail!
