Thursday Night Football Staff Picks: Player props, spread bets and more

• Bet Eagles WR DeVonta Smith o4.5 receptions: With Houston determined to prevent shots over the top like last week to A.J. Brown, Smith commanding a more targets than Brown is a very good possibility.

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• Bet Texans QB Davis Mills u34.5 yards longest completion: Philly's philosophy predicated on forcing teams to dink and dunk down the field. Without deep threats Nico Collins and Brandin Cooks, Houston has no deep threat to worry about.

Last updated: Nov. 3, 3:00 p.m.

Estimated reading time: 2 mins

Here are PFF staff best bets in Philadelphia Eagles–Houston Texans to kick off Week 9:

Ben Brown: Eagles WR DeVonta Smith — Over 4.5 receptions (+130)

Bet Gameplan: Playable to +105

Most are undervaluing the importance of Smith to this Eagles offense. He sat at his lowest number of offensive snaps played and routes run in Week 8, but this was a situation where the entire starting Eagles receiving unit was pulled back with the game out of reach. Smith will still be on the field for 90%+ of dropbacks and is very much in line to be the focal point of the Eagles offense in Houston. Buying low on Smith is my favorite betting approach Thursday night.

Arjun Menon: Texans QB Davis Mills — Under 34.5 yards longest completion (-110)

Bet Gameplan: Playable to 33.5

The Eagles play one of the NFL's most conservative brands of defense. Their philosophy is predicated on forcing teams to dink and dunk their way down the field, evidenced by not allowing a pass longer than 30 yards in 5/7 games this year. Davis Mills will not have deep threats Nico Collins and Brandin Cooks, leaving no real Texans deep threat for the Eagles to worry about.

Judah Fortgang: Eagles 1H -9

Bet Gameplan: Playable to -110

The Eagles have been by the far the best team in the NFL in the first half, scoring an average of 21 points(5 more than any other team). The Texans have averaged 8 points in the first half— and without Brandon Cooks and Nico Collins I don’t see them getting anything going before garbage time.

A $20 BET ON A TWO-LEG PARLAY WITH SMITH over 4.5 AND EAGLES 1H -8.5 WOULD NET $76 AT BETMGM

PFF staff best bets are 69-57 entering Week 9.