Panthers vs Texans Props – Best Team and Player Prop Bets for Week 3 TNF
By John Hyslop in NFL Football
Updated: September 23, 2021 at 12:15 pm EDTPublished:
- The Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans kick off Week 3 of the 2021 NFL Season in Houston, Texas at 8:20 PM ET on Thursday, September 23rd
- The Panthers are the surprise team in the NFL after winning their first two games but go on the road for the first time this season on Thursday
- See the odds, spread, analysis, and best prop bets below
NGR Stadium in Houston, Texas will serve as the battleground for the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans Thursday night. The kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 PM EST on NFL Network.
Carolina was the talk of the NFL last weekend after slaughtering the New Orleans Saints 26-7. The Panthers are now 2-0 and, at some point could be taken seriously in the NFC South. Meanwhile, Houston came back down to earth in Week 2, losing (but also covering) to the Cleveland Browns 31-21.
The Panthers opened as 4.5-point favorites but were quickly bet up to -8.0 after the Texans starting quarterback, Tyrod Taylor, was injured. The total has stayed in the 43-44 point range where it will likely be when this game kicks off. As always, there are plenty of player props to consider.
Panthers vs Texans Player Props
| Passer | Completions | Passing Yards | Passing TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Darnold (Panthers) | 23.5 (Ov -105 / Un -125) | 264.5 (Ov -115 / Un -115) | 1.5 (Ov -165 / Un +120) |
| Davis Mills (Texans) | 18.5 (Ov -130 / Un +100) | 216.5 (Ov -115 / Un -115) | 1.5 (Ov +180 / Un -245) |
| Rusher | Rushing Attempts | Rushing Yards | Total Yards |
| Christian McCaffrey (Panthers) | 18.5 (Ov -130 / Un -105) | 83.5 (Ov -115 / Un -115) | 137.5 (Ov -115 / Un -115) |
| David Johnson (Texans) | NA | 20.5 (Ov -110 / Un -120) | 40.5 (Ov -115 / Un -115) |
| Mark Ingram (Texans) | 9.5 (Ov +110 / Un -145) | 34.5 (Ov -115 / Un -115) | 41.5 (Ov -115 / Un -115) |
| Sam Darnold (Panthers) | NA | 6.5 ( Ov -120 / Un -110) | NA |
| Phillip Lindsay (Texans) | NA | 21.5 (Ov -115 / Un -115) | 28.5 (Ov -120 / Un -110) |
| Receiver | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Longest Reception |
| Brandin Cooks (Texans) | 5.5 (Ov +100 / Un -135) | 69.5 (Ov -115 / Un -115) | 24.5 (Ov -115 / Un -115) |
| Christian McCaffrey (Panthers) | 5.5 (Ov +100 / Un -135) | 49.5 (Ov -115 / Un -115) | 16.5 (Ov -125 / Un -105) |
| Dan Arnold (Panthers) | 1.5 (Ov -195 / Un +145) | 21.5 (Ov -115 / Un -115) | 13.5 (Ov -120 / Un -110) |
| David Johnson (Texans) | 2.5 (Ov +115 / Un -150) | 17.5 (Ov -110 / Un -110) | 11.5 (Ov -105 / Un -130) |
| Mark Ingram (Texans) | NA | 2.5 (Ov -115 / Un -115) | NA |
| DJ Moore (Panthers) | 5.5 (Ov +105 / Un -140) | 68.5 (Ov -115 / Un -115) | 24.5 (Ov -110 / Un -120) |
| Robby Anderson (Panthers) | 3.5 (Ov -160 / Un +120) | 44.5 (Ov -115 / Un -115) | 19.5 (Ov -105 / Un -125) |
| Terrace Marshall (Panthers) | 2.5 (Ov -145 / Un +110) | 29.5 (Ov -115 / Un -115) | 15.5 (Ov -120 / Un -110) |
Odds taken Sept. 22 from DraftKings
David Johnson Gets His
A lot of fantasy football people will cringe when they hear the name David Johnson and for good reason. His once strong name in the fantasy community has been weakened but he is still someone we can bet in the prop market. Especially in the reception market where his receiving chops are still pretty strong.
David Johnson UP pic.twitter.com/2NYmP6slgV
— Rivers McCown (@riversmccown) September 19, 2021
The betting market seems to think the Carolina Panthers are going to throttle the Houston Texans in Thursday night’s game. I’m not so sure of that but I do think the Panthers will play with a lead. If that happens, it would be good for Johnson, who played 43% of the Texans’ snaps last Sunday in a game that saw Houston trail all day.
Playing time is tough to come by and even tougher to predict when we’re dealing with a team like the Texans that have three backs they want to get involved. With that being said, Johnson looks like the back they prefer in the passing situations as well as the two-minute offense. He leads the team with 6 targets on the season which is twice as many as the next back on the list.
The Texans will be playing with a backup quarterback in Davis Mills. He played the second half of last week’s game and targeted Johnson twice officially and one other time on a play wiped out by a penalty. The Texans are highly likely to be chasing points Thursday night, and if they are, Johnson could easily see 4+ targets. He’s a good bet to catch three of them.
- The Pick: David Johnson Over 2.5 Receptions (+115) – Wager 1 unit to win 1.15 units
- 2021 NFL Player Props Record – 4 -2 +1.9 Units
Panthers vs Texans Scoring Props
| Player | First Touchdown Scorer | Anytime Touchdown Scorer |
|---|---|---|
| Christian McCaffrey (Panthers) | +330 | -250 |
| DJ Moore (Panthers) | +750 | -110 |
|
Robby Anderson (Panthers)
|
+1000 | +175 |
| Brandin Cooks (Texans) | +1200 | +200 |
| Mark Ingram (Texans) | +1300 | +225 |
| Phillip Lindsay (Texans) | +1500 | +250 |
| Terrace Marshall (Panthers) | +1600 | +275 |
| Chris Conley (Texans) | +1600 | +300 |
| David Johnson (Texans) | +1800 | +300 |
| Sam Darnold (Panthers) | +1800 | +310 |
| Dan Arnold (Panthers) | +2200 | +400 |
Who Scores?
The touchdown prop is a must on these primetime slates. It’s never easy to predict, and the value almost never seems to be there, but we still have to make a move. At the end of the day, they’re a fun bet, and we like fun. With that in mind, why not take the most fun player in the NFL, Christian McCaffrey?
Christian McCaffrey fantasy owners are loving this. #KeepPounding
(Via: @NFL) pic.twitter.com/nyEbv8Omnb
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 19, 2021
Christian McCaffrey is a usage monster, and even with a new quarterback in town that doesn’t look like it will change. He will run for touchdowns, or he will catch them. It’s all the same to McCaffrey. He only played three games last season due to injury, and he scored six touchdowns.
There is no way we can take him to score only once since his number is -250. However, this is a spot where he could be trusted to score at least twice. The Texans have already given up three touchdowns to running backs, and they’ve been smoked between the 20s on the ground and through the air by the position. At +225, McCaffrey is worth a shot instead of throwing darts at the other guys.
- Pick: Christian McCaffrey – 2+ TDs (+225) – Wager .1 unit to win .225 units
- 2021 Touchdown Scorer prop record 1-5 -.36 units
John has spent the past 20+ years betting sports on a daily basis and is considered by many to be a walking sports betting encyclopedia. From obscure player props to sides and totals, if there is an angle, John will find it.
