Two teams with playoff aspirations face off on Thursday Night Football when the Texans host the Bills. The Texans will try to put another game in the win column despite being without C.J. Stroud (concussion) for the third straight week. Let's dig into each position for the single-game contests on DraftKings and FanDuel.
Quarterback
Davis Mills ($9,600 DK, $11,600 FD) has started the last two games with Stroud sidelined and has been more than serviceable, throwing for 566 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He also has 34 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. The Texans haven't been conservative with him under center, resulting in his average target depth of 8.8 yards. In a game in which he could attempt around 40 passes, Mills has upside for Thursday night DFS lineups.
Josh Allen ($12,400 DK, $13,600 FD) is coming off one of the best fantasy lines of the season, posting six total touchdowns against the Buccaneers last week. After finishing with 40 total touchdowns last season, he has 28 through 10 games this year. Although the Texans have given up just 10 passing touchdowns, fading Allen for a single-game slate can be hazardous to your health.
Running Back
The Buccaneers held James Cook III ($11,400 DK, $12,000 FD) to 48 yards on 16 carries last week, but he got to them in the passing game with three catches for 66 yards and a touchdown. That marked his fifth game of the season with at least five receptions. As good as he has been, he's a risky option at his hefty salary for this matchup. The Texans have allowed the third-fewest yards per carry to running backs in the league and the ninth-fewest yards per target to the position.
He doesn't have the name recognition that Cook does, but Woody Marks ($9,200 DK, $10,400 FD) could emerge from this game with a better stat line. He received a season-high 18 carries last week and has passed Nick Chubb ($3,200 DK, $5,800 FD) on the Texans' depth chart. The Bills have been gashed on the ground, allowing the second-most yards per carry to running backs in the league. They have also allowed 15 total touchdowns to the position, which is tied for the most in the NFL.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
The Bills continue to get lackluster production from their wide receivers. Khalil Shakir ($8,000 DK, $9,600 FD) has been their most consistent threat, but he bombed last week with one reception for minus-3 yards. Still, he entered that matchup with at least six receptions in four of his previous five games, so he's the best Bills wide receiver to target. Keon Coleman ($5,400 DK, $4,000 FD) should return after missing last week for disciplinary reasons, but has posted three or fewer receptions in all but two games. A dart-throw option to consider is Tyrell Shavers ($2,400 DK, $3,800 FD), who might have earned himself extra snaps after catching four passes for 90 yards and a touchdown last week.
Nico Collins ($11,200 DK, $12,400 FD) is by far the best wide receiver in this game. He had nine receptions for 92 yards and one touchdown against the Titans last week, marking his third straight game with at least seven receptions and 75 receiving yards. He has accounted for 33.1 percent of the Texans' air yards and has been targeted on 27.6 percent of his routes. Behind him are inconsistent pass-catchers in Jayden Higgins ($4,600 DK, $7,600 FD) and Christian Kirk ($2,800 DK, $7,200 FD). Kirk has combined for just six receptions over the last three games, while Higgins has hauled in 10 of his 15 targets during that span. Higgins is the player to take a chance on between those two.
The Bills have a stellar tight end in Dalton Kincaid (hamstring), but he will miss his second straight game. Without him last week, Dawson Knox ($4,000 DK, $4,600 FD) caught one of his three targets for 23 yards. Still, given the lack of options the Bills have at wide receiver, Knox comes with some upside at his cheap salary.
The best Texans receiving option behind Collins is tight end Dalton Schultz ($6,400 DK, $7,400 FD), who has seven games with at least five receptions. With Mills starting the last two weeks, Schultz has 13 receptions for 104 yards and one touchdown on 20 targets. Going back to when Stroud was healthy, Schultz has received at least eight targets in four of the last five games. Don't forget about him when building your lineups.
Kicker
Ka'imi Fairbairn ($5,000 DK, $6,800 FD) will return for the Texans after missing Week 11 with a quadriceps injury. He has made 22 of his 25 field-goal attempts, including 5-of-8 from at least 50 yards. Since the start of the 2022 season, Fairbairn is 29-of-36 on kicks of at least 50 yards.
Matt Prater ($5,200 DK, $6,600 FD) has attempted just two field goals over the last three games because the Bills have been scoring touchdowns in bunches. The Texans have allowed just 16.3 points per game, so the Bills might need to settle for more field goals in this matchup.
Defense/Special Teams
The Texans ($4,400 DK, $6,200 FD) have 10 interceptions, which is tied for the third-most in the league, and they've given up the second-fewest rushing yards per game. While the Bills ($4,800 DK, $6,400 FD) have been terrible at slowing down the run game, they have given up the second-fewest passing yards per game. Both the Bills and the Texans rank in the top-five in the league in terms of lowest completion percentage allowed.
