The third week of the 2021 NFL schedule begins with the Carolina Panthers taking on the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football. The Panthers have been one of the surprise teams through two weeks, as they jumped out to a 2-0 record with wins over the Jets and Saints. Sam Darnold has clearly enjoyed playing with a talented group of skill players and behind an offensive line that has kept him well-protected thus far. NFL bettors could try to back Darnold with their NFL prop bets against a Texans defense that ranks 20th in net yards allowed per pass attempt (6.9).
D.J. Moore has been Darnold's favorite target thus far, catching 14 passes on 19 targets for 159 yards and a touchdown, and his over-under for total receiving yards is 68.5 in the latest NFL props from Caesars Sportsbook. Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks has also been prolific this year with 14 catches for 210 yards. The latest Thursday Night Football NFL player props list him at +190 to score a touchdown at anytime on Thursday. Before submitting any NFL prop bets for Panthers vs. Texans, you need to see the Texans vs. Panthers prop predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up almost $7,900 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception six-plus years ago. It went a sizzling 24-14 on top-rated NFL picks last season, returning more than $800. The model also enters Week 2 of the 2021 season on an incredible 121-79 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season.
The model also ranked in the Top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past five years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94 percent of CBS Sports Football Pick'em players four times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up.
It can also be used to crush prop picks. Last season, the player over-under prop picks went 389-310, returning over $3,000.
With Panthers and Texans facing off Thursday, the model has evaluated the NFL player props from Caesars and found five strong bets. You can only see them here.
Top NFL player prop bets for Panthers vs. Texans
After simulating Panthers vs. Texans 10,000 times, the model predicts that Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey will easily surpass 45.5 receiving yards and finish with 73. Carolina's offense is built around McCaffrey and the organization is showing no fear of injury after he missed 13 games last season. McCaffrey has touched the ball 59 times through two games and piled up 324 scrimmage yards.
He's now topped 45.5 receiving yards in 10 of his last 12 games and should be heavily involved against a Texans defense that allowed Browns running back Demetric Felton to gash them for 51 yards on just two targets last week. With Moore, Robby Anderson and Terrace Marshall Jr. attracting attention on the outside, look for McCaffrey to get isolated against linebackers and eat up yardage in chunks through the air on Thursday.
For Texans running back Mark Ingram, the model is also predicting that he'll cruise past his over-under of 33.5 rushing yards and finish with 41 on average. Houston appeared to be taking a running back by committee approach at the start of the season, but it's been Ingram who has dominated the carries thus far.
Ingram has been handed the ball 40 times, while Phillip Lindsay and David Johnson have combined for just 22 carries. With Tyrod Taylor out on Thursday Night Football because of a hamstring injury, the running game will be even more important than ever. Davis Mills will start, making 33.5 rushing yards seem paltry for a back who has averaged 20 carries per game so far.
How to make NFL player prop bets for Texans vs. Panthers
In addition, the model says another player blows past his yardage total and also predicts a prop with a plus-money payout to hit. You need to see the model's analysis before making any Panthers vs. Texans prop bets for Thursday.
Which Panthers vs. Texans prop bets should you back on Thursday Night Football? And which plus-money prop bet should you be all over? Visit SportsLine now to see the top Texans vs. Panthers prop bets, all from the model that's up almost $7,900 on top-rated NFL picks.