The Houston Texans and New York Jets are set to face off on Thursday Night Football to kick off the Week 9 slate. Houston enters with a 6-2 record while the Jets already find their backs against the wall sitting at 2-6 and in need of a winning streak.
The injury bug has been active down in Houston as it will be without its top two wide receivers. Nico Collins continues to recover from his hamstring injury while Stefon Diggs begins his recovery from his ACL tear that was sustained last week. Even still, the Texans sit in a good spot from the season-long outlook and have another opportunity to pick up a victory over the Jets.
Injuries have not been the primary issue for the Jets, but they are in desperate need to start picking up some wins. They have lost five consecutive games leading into this matchup and have not won since firing Robert Saleh. They rank 25th in scoring and Aaron Rodgers has been unable to elevate the offense the way it was expected. This is a full desperation spot for the New York franchise.
New York enters the matchup as 1.5-point favorites and -125 favorites on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Texans are considered +105 underdogs with the over/under set at 42 points.
We have plenty of articles on the site for the game outlook, DFS and Pick6 breakdowns, so here’s a look at some of the most intriguing player props ahead of Thursday night’s matchup.
Tank Dell Over 56.5 Receiving Yards (-115)
While the absence of Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs is a concern, the Texans are better equipped to sustain the injuries than most teams. Look directly toward Tank Dell as the wide receiver who is expected to step up.
Dell has not yet found his stride this season but tallied 709 receiving yards last season as a rookie. He eclipsed 100 receiving yards three times last season and tallied over 56.5 receiving yards in five of the 10 games he played in. So far this season, Dell has eclipsed 56.5 receiving yards just twice.
Without the top two pass catchers, expect Dell to be more heavily involved in the passing game. He is a capable pass catcher and a big-play threat who could potentially clear this number with just one catch. Expect him to be more involved in the game plan than has been the case so far and for him to comfortably clear 56.5 receiving yards.
Will Anderson Jr. Over 0.25 Sacks (-115)
Through the first eight games, Aaron Rodgers has been sacked 18 times. In addition, he has been blitzed 81 times, which is the fifth-most any quarterback has faced. While the New York Jets have added wide receivers and brought in players Rodgers is familiar with, the root of the team’s issues is on the offensive and defensive lines.
Look directly toward Will Anderson Jr. as the biggest threat to disrupt Rodgers in this game. Last year’s third-overall pick is growing into one of the premier pass rushers and has tallied 14.5 sacks across the 23 games he has played in. Looking at this season, Anderson has tallied 7.5 sacks already and has successfully taken down the quarterback in five of the eight games.
Expect the poor offensive line play to continue to cause issues and for Anderson to make his presence felt on Rodgers often. It takes just one play for him to record half a sack and cash this prop. Expect the offensive line to be unable to contain him throughout the game and for Anderson to add Rodgers to his list of sacked quarterbacks.
Aaron Rodgers Over 1.5 Passing Touchdowns (+115)
While it is clear Aaron Rodgers is not the caliber of quarterback he once was, it is also clear the Jets have no plans to switch from their pass-oriented attack. Through the opening eight weeks, the Jets rank 25th in rush attempts compared to having the fourth-best passing rate. The team has tallied 18 offensive touchdowns this season with 13 of these coming through the air.
While Houston’s defense has been solid overall, it ranks 28th in passing touchdowns allowed. It also has only been able to hold an opponent below 20 points just once so far this season.
Expect Rodgers to continue to be at the forefront of the attack, especially when the team gets in the red zone. The four-time MVP has thrown for two passing touchdowns in five of the eight games, even without the team having much success. He has also reached this number in three of the past four games. Look for Rodgers to continue this streak and for the Jets quarterback to find his way to two passing touchdowns once again.
Tank Dell to Have 25+ Receiving Yards in Each Half (+200)
When considering the Texans’ need to get Tank Dell involved, expect this to occur right from opening kickoff. Look for the Texans to scheme up some creative ways to get the ball in his hands. Xavier Hutchinson and Robert Woods will serve as the second and third wide receivers in this game.
While needing to reach this number in both halves adds some risk, the +200 odds are worth a swing. Dell has not tallied more than nine targets this season after being targeted double-digit times in four games last season. Expect this level of volume to occur in this matchup.
If the Texans are to have their desired level of offensive success, it will involve a heavy dose of Tank Dell. Expect his biggest performance of the season and for Dell to find his way to 25+ receiving yards in each half.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
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