Texans vs. Cowboys: Monday Night Football Picks for NFL DFS Today

The Houston Texans take on the Dallas Cowboys on a short road trip to north Texas on Monday Night Football to wrap up Week 11. Despite the loss of Cowboys QB Dak Prescott for the season, this game still has two of the best receivers featuring with Ceedee Lamb and the return of Nico Collins. 

The Cowboys have yet to win a home game this season and at 3-6 they’re looking to evaluate their roster and coaching staff after Presott’s season-ending surgery on his hamstring. For the Texans, they’re in desperate need of a win after losing three of their last four, including a heartbreaking loss as time expired to the Lions on Sunday Night Football. 

Below, we will take a look at some of the best Monday Night Football picks for the Texans vs. Cowboys showdown on Monday Night Football for NFL DFS and PrizePicks in NFL Week 11.

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Texans vs. Cowboys Best Picks for NFL DFS

Here are the top PrizePicks picks for the Texans vs. Cowboys showdown on Monday Night Football Week 11.

• TD Scorer Prediction: Texans WR Nico Collins (Demon)
• Cowboys K Brandon Aubrey 1.5 FGs Made — More (Goblin)
• Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle 13 Rush Attempts — More
• Texans RB Joe Mixon 17.5 Receiving Yards — More

Texans vs. Cowboys: Time, How to Watch, Location

Date: Monday, November 18, 2024

Time: 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff

Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

How to Watch: ESPN

The Texans will very much welcome the return of WR Nico Collins back to the starting lineup after losing him for Week 5. Collins caught a 67-yard TD and left the game immediately after, then was placed on injured reserve during the following week.

The Houston offense averages nearly 80 more yards per game with Collins in the lineup, but they are now also missing WR Stefon Diggs after he tore his ACL. The return of Collins gives Houston the deep-play threat that they have been lacking for the last five weeks without him.

The Cowboys have lost four straight and are now without their starting quarterback. The team will start Cooper Rush once again, but he struggled last week, throwing for only 45 yards on 23 attempts — an abysmal 1.95 yards per attempt. Backup Trey Lance is expected to get some reps or even take the starting job at some point. 

In their first full-game without Prescott, Dallas struggled mightily, generating less than 150 yards of offense. The team committed to Rico Dowdle as the full-time starting running back after RB Ezekiel Elliott fumbled at the goal line. Dowdle will be one to keep an eye on. 

For the second straight week, Dallas is facing a top-three defense, so their offense could struggle to move the ball again. 

TD Scorer Prediction: Texans WR Nico Collins (Demon)

Outside wide receivers have feasted against the Cowboys this year with the likes of Darnell Mooney, Jameson Williams, Rashid Shaheed all scoring touchdowns. Without touchdowns, both AJ Brown and Malik Nabers had monster game against them. 

In his first game back from injury, the Texans will likely look to getting Collins the ball early and often. Without Diggs, Collins had 27 targets per route run to Dell’s 23. The big stat to watch for here is the Cowboys allow the seventh most fantasy points to outside wide receivers this year, which is where Collins lines up. 66 percent of Dallas’ fantasy points allowed to wide receivers have come from the outside. 

The Cowboys are missing top CB DaRon Bland again this week, which leaves a modge podge of average or below average corners to defend Collins.

Note: Demon picks add a payout boost to your lineup on PrizePicks, as they are more difficult projections to hit.

Nico Collins Projections

Here are Nico Collins projections for Monday Night Football on PrizePicks for NFL Week 11.

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Cowboys K Brandon Aubrey 1.5 FGs Made — More (Goblin)

With Dallas facing one of the best defenses in terms of yards per game allowed for a second straight week, the offense will struggle to move the ball again. Last week, the Cowboys only mustered up two field goals and that should be the case again this week.

With Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey known to have the biggest leg in the league, the Cowboys will be in field goal territory once they cross midfield. Dallas will likely have to rely on one of their best players to get points on the board on Monday night.

Note: Goblin picks are a smaller payout to your lineup on PrizePicks, as they are easier projections to hit.

Brandon Aubrey Projections

Here are more Brandon Aubrey projections for Monday Night Football on PrizePicks for NFL Week 11.

Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle 13 Rush Attempts — More

Look for the Cowboys to feed RB Rico Dowdle out of the backfield this week. Only five running backs have gone more than 13 rush attempts against the Texans this year, with most being the better backs in the league such as Jahmyr Gibbs, Jonathan Taylor, and Breece Hall. 

Patriots RB Antonio Gibson is the only running back with a projected negative gamescript from the start to clear 12.5 versus the Texans. 

Despite the game script likely to go against Dallas, the team will look to give their starting running back the ball more with Rush under center. Head coach Mike McCarthy said, “Definitely you have to get him the ball. That’s my focus to continue to get him opportunities. He’s the lead back.”

Rico Dowdle Projections

Here are more Rico Dowdle projections for Monday Night Football on PrizePicks for NFL Week 11.

Texans RB Joe Mixon 17.5 Receiving Yards — More

In what is likely going to be a positive game script for the Texans, RB Joe Mixon should see a lot of the football on Monday night. Not many backs have gone more than 21.5 rush attempts against Dallas, even in blowouts against the Ravens and Lions. Instead, we’re looking to his receiving yards square. 

The Cowboys average 39 receiving yards allowed to opposing running backs. Running backs have gone more than 17.5 against the Cowboys in all but two games this year — save for Eagles RB Saquon Barkley (blowout) and 49ers RB Isaac Guerendo after Jordan Mason got hurt.

Mixon also has gone over this projection in five of seven games he has played this season, putting this square in a good spot.

Joe Mixon Projections

Here are more Joe Mixon projections for Monday Night Football on PrizePicks for NFL Week 11.

Lock In Your NFL Lineups on PrizePicks

This Texans vs. Cowboys matchup on Monday Night Football isn’t the most exciting, with Dallas struggling after the injury to Prescott, but should still bring some fantasy production, especially for the Texans offense. 

Week 11 of the NFL season is coming to a close, and the best way to play is on PrizePicks. PrizePicks is the easiest way to get real money action on NFL DFS, especially for Monday Night Football.

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Just lock in your favorite players’ stat projections in your Lineup on PrizePicks. Thanks to the number of unique stat types and squares on the board, you can build your Lineup however you’d like.

Use PrizePicks to build a Lineup of your NFL picks and be sure to check out The Playbook for more picks.

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